Delayed Hunsader Pumpkin Festival draws hundreds of families to East Manatee farm
EAST MANATEE -- One pumpkin was not enough for 6-year-old Colette Armstrong.
Her father helped her pick up the pumpkin she carefully chose but she held it by herself as she walked.
"I have another one that's big," Colette exclaimed. "I like pumpkin because then I get to carve them."
She flashed a beaming smile while clutching the pumpkin her grandparents would help her carve, she said.
"I also got to feed the animals," Colette said.
In addition to the petting zoo, she also like watching some of the shows such as the motorcycle stunt.
"I really want to ride the ponies," she added.
After the scheduled opening of the festival last weekend was washed out by rain, hundreds of families came out Saturday to Hunsader Farms, 5500 County Road 675, in East Manatee County. The hay rides, pumpkin patches, hale bale and corn mazes, games, craft booths and rides did not disappoint.
Five-year-old Tanner Pezzulto made his way all the way to the back of one pumpkin patch, looking for just the right one.
"I can't find one," Tanner said. "Not the right one."
Accompanied by mom and aunt, Tanner held his hands about 6 inches away from each other as he explained what size he wanted.
"I don't want one too big because I can't pick it up," Tanner added.
Before making his way to the pumpkin patch, Tanner also enjoyed many of the shows at the festival, particularly the American Wall of Death Motordome show.
"I don't know how they did it," he said describing men riding motorcycles inside the dome.
The crossbow show was also exciting, according to Tanner.
Adults enjoyed the festival, too.
Tina Trotta of Sarasota was enjoying music on stage at the festival.
"I wanted to come shop at the farmer's market and the kids enjoy it," Trotta said.
It wasn't her first time at the festival, and she brought her daughter and two grandchildren with her, she said. The craft vendors is the other big draw for her, she said.
"I like to walk around," Trotta said. "Sometimes I get good ideas because I am a little crafty."
She's always looking for a new piece of jewelry, she added.
Anne Woodward was pushing an empty stroller as her 23-month-old daughter, Beverly, trotted along.
The pumpkin patch drew them from their North Port home, she said.
"We needed some pumpkins," Woodward said. "There's also a lot of stuff for her to do here."
As she spoke, Beverly kept trotted in and out of a long covered walkway.
"We went through this a bunch of times."
Asked if she was having fun, the toddler smiled while wearing a Halloween-theme outfit.
The Hunsader Pumpkin Festival will continue from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday and conclude the following weekend. Admission is $10 and children 12 and under are free. Parking is $5.
Information: Hunsaderfarms.com/page10.html.
Jessica De Leon, Herald law enforcement reporter, can be reached at 941-745-7049. You can follow her on Twitter @JDeLeon1012.
This story was originally published October 17, 2015 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Delayed Hunsader Pumpkin Festival draws hundreds of families to East Manatee farm ."