Cayuga Sunrise Farm hosts opening day of its pumpkin patch

Cayuga Sunrise Farms, a 700-acre farm, is gearing up for the autumn season, now in its fifth year of its pumpkin patch and family-friendly activities. To kick off and welcome the new season, the 100% organic farm is hosting an opening day and vendor event on Sept. 30.

This year, a new addition to Cayuga Sunrise Farms includes a barrel train ride, an attraction for young children constructed of metal barrels. As the children sit in the barrels, they are pulled with a four-wheeler, explained Stefani FitzPatrick, office manager.

The farm has also collaborated with local vendors to usher in its pumpkin patch season, with a line-up including Mandy’s Clay Creations, Lyke Wood, Fleece & Thank Ewe Fiber Worx, What Is in The Jar, Jojo Cook, Conmigo Travel Group, Lisa’s Countryside Crafts, Little Hauntlings and Half Assed Homestead. FitzPatrick says the vendor list continues to grow, and the farm is still open to accepting new vendors.

“We like to try to add something new every year,” said FitzPatrick of the farm’s offerings.

Looking ahead, on Oct. 1, the farm is hosting a Family Fun Day with an inflatable obstacle course. The first 75 kids with a pumpkin purchase will receive a coupon for a free ice cream cone from Trimmers Ice Cream.

Most of all, the farm hopes to continue expanding its offerings while continuing to be affordable for its visitors. 

Jason Carpenter, Cayuga Sunrise Farm’s pumpkin patch operations supervisor and farm staff member, shared that it’s important to the business to keep its events free or cost-conscious.

“We try to keep it very family-friendly with the prices,” he said. “We try to have a lot of free activities that families can come and enjoy. That’s one of the main goals. We’ve had a lot of people comment on how they can come here and have fun and not spend a whole week’s paycheck.”

It’s a method that is successful, as families return to the farm year after year.

“I love seeing people coming back,” said Carpenter of returning visitors.

The importance of family is shared across Cayuga Sunrise Farms, which has many helpful hands within its operation. “Other staff from our farm and all of our families help at the pumpkin patch,” said FitzPatrick. 

Her father, Rodney Porter, owns Cayuga Sunrise.

“We started our pumpkin patch because we wanted a place that our community could visit locally without breaking the bank,” explained FitzPatrick. “Both Jason and his wife have two kids and my husband and I have two young girls. Both of our families get excited each year to work at the pumpkin patch as it’s a way for us to connect with the community and give back by providing a place for families to visit that is fun and family-friendly.”

Closer to Halloween, the farm will host special events such as a moonlight hayride, a flashlight corn maze and a large bonfire with refreshments and hot chocolate.

As November approaches, the farm also has a winter CSA until April with four share options for community members. The six-month subscription offers a combination of beef and pork, beef only, pork only, or ground beef and pork. 

“We are 100% grass-fed beef and we naturally raise the pigs in an open-air barn with outdoor access,” said FitzPatrick, adding that the farm also sells pasture-raised chicken. An order form can be found on the farm’s website.

The farm also takes a sustainable approach at the close of the pumpkin patch season, removing decorations and displays before herding their cattle into the pasture to eat the spoils of the leftover pumpkins, maize and grass. 

Cayuga Sunrise Farm’s pumpkin patch opening day is Saturday, Sept. 30, and is open weekends in October from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. 

The farm will also host Till It’s Gone Food truck on Oct. 8 and 28.

For more information on Cayuga Sunrise Farm and its pumpkin patch, please visit CayugaSunriseFarm.com or its social media pages.

Trumansburg Connection appears every week in Tompkins Weekly. Send story ideas to editorial@VizellaMedia.com or courtney.rehfeldt@gmail.com.

Comedy UnCorked: Trumansburg’s Comedy Nights

Get ready to uncork the laughter with Comedy UnCorked: Trumansburg’s Comedy Nights! at Cedarwood Event Venue, 9632 NY-96, on Thursday, Sept. 28 from 7 to 9 p.m.

Unwind with crisp humor, local favorites on tap and a community of laughter lovers.

For tickets, visit comedyonthecommons.com.

Lego Club

Come drop in and show off your Lego building skills at an open Lego build event at the Ulysses Philomathic Library on Saturday, Sept. 30, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. 

The event is open for children of all ages. 

The Grain Bin Market

Visit The Grain Bin Market on Oct. 1  at the Trumansburg Fairgrounds from 8 a.m. to 2 pm.

It will be the last Grain Bin Market at the fairgrounds for the season. Something for everyone!  

A holiday pop-up is being planned for early December; details to follow soon.