Pumpkin patches return with rising popularity

Close your eyes and imagine yourself walking through a corn maze with your family: you may be picking a variety of granny smith or honeycrisp apples, crawling through the corn pit with your siblings, or drinking warm apple cider with sugar-coated apple cider donuts. The tradition of pumpkin patches has been an American family staple during the autumn months, though as we get older, the meaning of pumpkin patches changes from a family outing to an aesthetically pleasing social media post. 

Pumpkin patches are not only a family friendly destination, but also an aesthetically pleasing backdrop for a fall-focused Instagram post for the younger generations hoping to get the dopamine rush of a shared post, view, or repost. Pumpkin patches are also full of fun activities as well, from hay rides, corn mazes, and apple picking, there is something for everyone and every age during the fall season.  

However, nowadays pumpkin patches have become the main attraction of the autumn season. Yes, the fun activities that pumpkin patches bring are enticing to many, but the social media aspect of pumpkin patches has taken over. Every year, we see a flood of social media posts documenting people’s pumpkin patch adventures, and as we get older our view of pumpkin patches shifts, we go from waiting to go and pick out the perfect pumpkin, to now wanting to take the perfect picture. 

 “Well, people love a photo op–pumpkin patches and nature in general are natural photo ops. So yeah, people see others like influencers or whatnot going to pumpkin patches. And yeah, just a trend, right?” Plainfield North student Piper Sugrue said.

Sugrue’s comment further addresses the idea that the view of pumpkin patches evolve as we get older. Instead of having the main focus on the magic of pumpkin patches and the fall season alone, we are now focused on getting the perfect fall backdrop, and cozy autumn vibe for a social media post. 

Now, none of this is wrong or out of the ordinary; it is just how our society works, and the nostalgia and magic of  pumpkin patches is not entirely lost. Many are still going outside into nature, enjoying the outdoors, and having fun with friends and family during the fall season. 

If you still want to relive the nostalgia of pumpkin patches, there are various pumpkin patches around our area, such as Keller’s Farm Stand, Siegel’s Pumpkin Farm, the Sugar Grove Pumpkin Farm, and many more. 

A Plainfield North student Katelyn Mcnamara says, “Honestly cause they’re pretty, they are cuter to look at!”

Regardless of your reasoning for going to a pumpkin patch this fall, make sure to have fun and soak it all in, the nostalgia will take over, and all of a sudden you’ll be a little kid again enjoying the magic of pumpkin patches and the joy of being around family and friends.