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| Visitors can pick their own pumpkins from the patch. |
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| The Pumpkin Festival has kid-friendly activities like face painting, hay maze, petting zoo and horse rides. |
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| The insect festival will be held at the Bronco Student Center. |
Students, faculty, staff and the local community can usher in the fall season at Cal Poly Pomona's annual Pumpkin Festival on Oct. 17 and 18 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
In addition to gathering their own pumpkins, visitors can enjoy a pancake breakfast, petting zoo, pony rides, county fair-style cuisine and more. Free parking is available in lots K and B.
“This event is great because the proceeds go back to the students and the College of Agriculture,” says Dawn Taccone, manager of the Farm Store, which is sponsoring the event. “It's a great outing for the entire family.”
The festival will kick off Saturday with a pancake breakfast from 8 to 11 a.m. The cost is $5 for adults and $4 for children. Food and game booths will also open at 8, and for first time, a kids zone will be available with child friendly activities, including face painting, a hay maze, a petting zoo and horse rides.
And, of course, visitors will be able to choose from a wide selection of pumpkins, starting at $5. Groups and classes that want to get a head start may visit the pumpkin patch Oct 12 to 15 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
“It's wonderful for city kids to see how food grows in an actual field,” says Brenda Orozco, the coordinator for Agriscapes, which promotes agricultural and environmental literacy.
To make an appointment, contact Orozco at (909) 869-6722.
The 20th annual insect fair will also be held Oct. 17-18 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The event at the Bronco Student Center will feature 25 exhibitors with extensive insect collections, books and toys. Proceeds will sponsor international student research trips.
“Bring your cameras,” says Richard Kaae, plant sciences professor. “There will be opportunities for people to hold a live Madagascar hissing cockroach, a giant tarantula and a footlong millipede.”
Visitors can also taste different honey flavors, experience life in a beehive and try cricket lollipops. Admission is $6 for adults and $4 for students and children 3 to 12.
Free parking is available, and a shuttle will transport people from the Pumpkin Festival parking lot to the insect fair.
For more information, visit www.cpp.edu/~agri/news/pumpkin.shtml.