Midlothian pumpkin farm offers many fall activities in its sixth season
- Charity Fitch
- Aug 3, 2023
- 3 min read
MIDLOTHIAN – If you’re looking for a fun fall activity and all things pumpkin, look no further than Shadow Creek Pumpkin Farm.
Located in Midlothian, it sits on more than 20 acres of shaded farmland and offers a wide variety of activities for the community to enjoy including hayrides, a corn maze, barnyard animals, specialty food and drinks, pumpkins and more.
The sixth season opens Oct. 1 and will run every Saturday and Sunday through Oct. 30 and will be open one weekday, Monday, Oct. 31. Hours of operation are from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Tickets can be bought online or in person at the farm, and discounts are available for first responders, seniors and veterans.
Thousands of pumpkins located throughout the farm are available for purchase, and more than 20 staged pumpkin photo ops are spread throughout the area.
Included with the admission ticket are hayrides, corn maze, giant pumpkin jump pad, hay hill slides, barnyard animals, tree swings, and more. To add more to the experience, multiple vendors are available, including axe throwing and animal feedings.
While Shadow Creek allows outside food and drink, it also offers several food trucks selling tacos, corndogs and barbecue, as well as many dessert, snacks and drink vendors. Tiverton Bakeshop, Pokey O’s and Cici’s Dough Bites are a few of the dessert vendors. Drink vendors include The Sippin’ Silo, which sells tea, soda and apple cider, and Bloom & Pour, which sells coffee.
This season, Shadow Creek has added two new bridges, on-site professional photography family sessions and more activities to enjoy.
More than simply enjoying these fall activities, Shadow Creek wants everyone who walks under their shade to feel like a part of their family.
Since their start in 2017, the Knott and Nunes family, co-owners and family partners of the farm, have made it their mission to create an environment that is compassionate, loving, inclusive, accepting and welcoming.
“We don’t care what people look like, smell like, sound like, we’re going to love them, and when they come in here, we’re going to treat them well and encourage them to have a good time,” Amber Knott said.
Family partners Amber Knott and Sarah Nunes said this is accomplished in many ways from signs posted around the farm to how they train their employees. Both Knott and Nunes have a teaching background and have used that experience and knowledge at the farm.
They use more symbols for signs to help those with lower literacy levels and non-English speakers. They use signage, instructions and more to set up an environment for children to know what to do, feel comfortable and risk free and enjoy themselves.
Their employees are trained with a model similar to that of Chick-fil-A. As an example, Nunes said employees are trained to never walk past a customer holding a pumpkin without offering to help.
Knott and Nunes said creating this environment stems from their families’ belief in God.
“Every year, people are like this is just different, feels different and looks different,” Knott said. “The people are different here, and, for us, that difference is Christ.”
“This is our ministry,” Nunes said. “We are all believers. You just can’t talk about this place without knowing that’s where it all comes from.”
Shadow Creek pledges the first of its profits each year to various causes and churches in the community. In the past, they have given to Ovilla Christian School, Manna House, Hearts & Tails of Hope Pet Rescue, Midlothian High School organizations and more.
“We believe in giving the first fruits of what we get back, in monetary value to the Lord, and so the community is our mission,” Knott said.
When the Nunes family moved next door to the Knotts, they found themselves looking down at the beautiful valley below their house, and Layne Nunes asked the Knotts if they were interested in starting a pumpkin farm together in the valley where their properties align.
From there, the families worked together to determine the logistics and what kind of pumpkin farm they would be. They visited multiple pumpkin farms in the surrounding areas and opened in the fall 2017.
Nunes and Knott said it was scary that first year because they were not sure anyone would come, but they had about 24,000 people visit the farm. Since then, it has grown to offer more activities, food vendors and hold a wider audience.
Each year, they work hard to improve the farm and offer something new to their customers.
Both families work the entire season and so do their children. Knott said it is a family-owned and family-operated business.
“It’s our family wanting to love on your family,” Knott said.
For more information or to buy tickets, visit www.shadowcreekpumpkinfarm.com or follow them on Facebook or Instagram @shadowcreekpumpkin.
Comentarios