Welcome to Pumpkinville
Welcome to Pumpkinville
Pawlowski family brings back corn maze, Sunflower Daze, introduces Beer Garden
Few things say “fall” like a visit to the pumpkin patch, a fresh pumpkin donut, or a nice cold pumpkin ale, and now you can enjoy all of these autumn delights at Pumpkinville! For the 26th year, the Pawlowski family is excited to welcome visitors to their 200-acre farm for a brand new season of fun, which kicks off this weekend on September 11th beginning at 9:00am.
As any previous visitor knows, there’s so much more to Pumpkinville than, well, pumpkins, but no visit is complete without selecting a carvable gourd or two. “The pumpkin crop looks great this year,” said owner Dan Pawlowski. “We’ve really got a great selection, so no matter what size or shape you’re looking for, you’ll find it!” In addition to pre-picked pumpkins that are ready to go, Pumpkinville also has a pick-your-own patch located behind the carousel.
While it may feel easy to get lost in the many rows of pumpkins, the real maze exists in the nearby corn field. An annual tradition, Pumpkinville’s corn maze is a sight to behold. “This year’s corn maze was sponsored by WGRZ Channel 2 News,” said Pawlowski. “They were here recently getting drone footage of the maze, and it looks great!”
THE BEER GARDEN
Pawlowski is very excited to introduce visitors to the newest addition to the farm: Pumpkinville’s beer garden. “We’ve been working on this since March,” he explained. “It’s a big, open-air 5,000 square-foot building. We’re working with Ellicottville Brewing Company to serve five different beers, and we’re also serving beverages from the Winery of Ellicottville, including wine slushies, a mulled wine, and hard cider.”
The beer garden will be open from noon-6:00pm Friday through Sunday, though Pawlowski said it’s possible that hours will expand during the season. “We’re really excited that we’re able to offer this, especially for our local crowd here who enjoy these beverages,” said Pawlowski. “The beer garden is a nice, open-air building but you’re also able to - within the confines of our entire place - freely walk around with your beverage. If someone wants to visit the shops with a beverage or get on a hayride with their family, they’re welcome to do that.”
While beer garden hours are currently set for weekends, Pumpkinville is open every day from 9:00am-7:00pm through October 31st. (They close at 5:00pm on Halloween.) As in years past, on any day of the week, there is no admission cost to enter the front farm market, retail shop and food areas. From Friday through Sunday, as well as Monday, Oct. 11th, all individuals ages three and up must have a Barnyard Blast or Hogwild Combo Pass to enter into the back Barnyard Fun Activities Area. Barnyard activities include the Punchin’ Pumpkin Race, Singing Chicken Show, Perky the Talking Pumpkin, farm animals, Storyland, Kiddie Spookum Barn, Train Play Area, and much more.
Unlike last year, this year there are no capacity limits, so tickets do not need to be purchased in advance. However, passes can be purchased online at pumpkinville.com, and there is a $2 discount for online ticket purchases. Pawlowski explained, “Differently from last year, these passes can be purchased in advance, but you can use them on any day of the season. If your plans suddenly change or there’s rain in the forecast, you can choose a different day with no problem.”
SUNFLOWER DAZE
The Pawlowski family is looking forward to Sunflower Daze, their annual fundraiser for the Pink Pumpkin Project of Olean. Founded by Lynn Anzivine in memory of her sister-in-law Laurie, the Pink Pumpkin Project sells beautifully painted pumpkins each October to raise money for those undergoing treatment for breast cancer throughout the southern tier. During the first two weekends of Pumpkinville, visitors can purchase sunflowers grown on the farm, and all money is donated to the Pink Pumpkin Project. “We give 100% to this project,” Pawlowski explained. “All of the expense is on us: I buy the seeds, plant them, and fertilize and every cent goes to the Pink Pumpkin Project.”
This is the fourth year that Pumpkinville is selling sunflowers, and Pawlowski is hoping to give the Pink Pumpkin Project a sizable donation. “Two years ago, we raised just over $4,000,” he recalled. “Last year, right before opening night, we had a frost that killed just about all of those sunflowers. With any luck, that’s not going to happen again!”
Pawlowski is excited to be a part of this great cause that’s been a local favorite for the past 10 years. “We wanted to do something like this with sunflowers, but we wanted to keep the funds in the region,” he explained. “We love Lynn and the people that work for her. Their work is so unselfish, and we’re proud to be a part of that.” Depending on how many sunflowers there are and the demand, Sunflower Daze will run this weekend and next, with the possibility of a third weekend in September.
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Currently, helicopter rides are to-be-determined, as they were canceled last year due to COVID-19. Pawlowski encourages visitors to stay tuned, and to follow Pumpkinville on Facebook for freebie Friday giveaways and other updates. “We’re really glad to be here and glad to be part of the community,” said Pawlowski. “The pandemic has affected so much, but I’m happy that we can continue doing what we love here in a safe way. We’re grateful to everyone who makes Pumpkinville a part of their annual fall tradition.”
Pumpkinville is located at 4844 Sugartown Road, Great Valley, NY. For additional information, visit pumpkinville.com or call 716-699-2205.