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Community Corner

Pumpkins, Hay Bales and Corn Mazes: Must Do Activities for a Family Friendly Halloween

A list of must-do Halloween Festivities for the family!

Halloween is only 12 days away and hopefully you have your Halloween costume by now (if not see last week’s ). Once you've locked down your costume, it's time to branch out and visit a pumpkin patch, hit a fall festival, or watch a show.

Whatever it is, Sonoma seems to have it all!

Here’s my kids' favorite activities (we try to go every year):

Find a Pumpkin Patch:

Stanly Lane Pumpkin Patch in Napa or Adobe Pumpkin Patch in Petaluma are the closest to Sonoma, each is under 15 minutes away. Adobe Pumpkin Farm has a 30 acre pumpkin farm and opens in the end of September. On the weekends they have a haunted barn ($5, not recommended for kids under 8), party jump ($2), hay rides ($4), farmer’s market, and food vendors.   They also have great gift shops, a Heebe Jeebe costume shop outpost (Thursday-Sunday) and a corn maze (open every day, $5). On October 22-23 they will have farm animals, animal milking, and antique tractors. Open every day, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.  Adobe Pumpkin Farm, 2478 E. Washington Street, Petaluma (707) 763-6416.

Stanly Lane is a quaint little pumpkin patch, with scarecrows, pigs and a country windmill for that small town feeling. Bring the cameras, the  sunflowers and giant pumpkins make for great photos. They have countless varieties of pumpkins that are well below supermarket prices. Open every day, 10a.m. - 6 p.m. 3100 Golden Gate Drive (at Stanly Lane), 707-480-4479

Go to the Tolay Fall Festival:

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The festival runs October 19 - 23. With the hay rides in a pumpkin patch, a Native American Village, night time creatures barn with a creepy crawly critter room (my kids favorite by far!), crafts, giant straw maze pyramid, lots of farm animals, and of course, pumpkins, what is not to love! This is always a must do for us. We packed our lunch and found a hay bale to sit on (which was a little scratchy so make sure to bring a blanket). Don’t forget the camera and shoes you do not mind getting very dirty. Fee $4 for ages 13 +, $1 for under 12, Parking is $6. Tolay Regional Park, 5869 Lakeville Highway, Petaluma (707) 565-2041.

Go see Witchie Poo at Sebastiani Theatre:

The Witchie Poo Players present their 31st annual Halloween Extravaganza stage show, “WITCHIE POO GOES GAGA!,” in four fabulous weekend matinees at 2:00 p.m., October 22, 23, 29 and 30, at the Sebastiani Theatre. Don’t miss the all-new black light special of Beetle Juice! Adults are $9; seniors, 62 and better, and children, 12 and under, are $7. Call 707/996-9756 to reserve your tickets,  they tend to disappear like magic!

Go to the Children’s Pumpkin Festival at Sonoma Ecology Center:

On the last Saturday in October from 10-2, the Sonoma Ecology Center will be offering an old fashioned pumpkin festival! They will have face painting, pumpkin carving, arts and craft activities, a costume contest and food. The Harvest Series actually takes place every Saturday in October and offers a different community event each weekend. During these events, a wonderful straw bale fort is available for kids and adults to play on. The Harvest Market, open every Saturday from 9 am to 1 pm,  will also be selling produce and flowers, sustainably grown at Sonoma Garden Park, as well as pumpkins and gourds from the pumpkin patch. Eggs from NixChix and other local specialty items are also available. For additional information about the Children's Pumpkin Festival, please contact (707) 996-0712 x107.

Go Trick or Treating at Sonoma Marketplace-

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Celebrate Halloween at the Sonoma Marketplace Shopping Center, a safe and fun place for Trick or Treating (and early for the younger kids)!  Tim Cain will be hosting a Sing-A-Long once again in the Gazebo, a fun treat for all.  Trick or Treating will start immediately after.  Whole Foods Market, Sonoma is a proud sponsor of this event.  Kids can stop by Whole Foods for a yummy treat! Sing-A-Long will be at 4:00 and trick or treating will begin at 4:45 until 6:00. 

Sell your Halloween candy at Cash4Candy-

This is actually the day after Halloween, November 1st, from 3:00-6:00 at Synergy Dental Group, 660 3rd. West Street. Dr. Yolanda Mangrum and her entire crew will be weighing all the candy you want to sell and handing over $1.00 per pound. My kids did this last year and they loved it. They each made about $4.00 and walked out with a big smile (including mom). The candy is donated to Sonoma State University for a biofuel research project and an art project for the Waugh School District in Petaluma. They also hand out raffle tickets (we actually won a great backpack last year), treats and apples! It is a lot of fun!

So, there is really so much to do even right here in Sonoma or just over the border. Enjoy and have a safe Halloween!

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