South Kingstown, R.I. – On Columbus Day, Clark Farm in Matunuck turned its annual Fall Fest into a lively community event with an all‑you‑can‑carry pumpkin sale. For a flat fee of $25, shoppers could load as many pumpkins as they could physically carry, while a $100 wagon option let families haul even more.
Family‑Focused Fun and New Attractions
Clark Farm, a longtime staple off Route 1, has hosted Fall Fest for roughly seven weeks each autumn, featuring hayrides, a paintball shooting gallery, a zip line, corn pits, go‑karts, and a pedal racetrack. This year’s theme, “Celebrating 250 Years of Farming,” added a new “Pumpkin Wonderland” display with over 10,000 artistically arranged pumpkins, a river, and a canoe for photo‑ops.
Marketing manager Max Buccholz explained the promotion’s purpose: “We wanted to turn picking pumpkins into a fun game and help us clear out the excess as Thanksgiving and Christmas approach.” The farm’s president, Richard Clark, who has run the property since the eighth grade, praised the community response, noting that the line of eager shoppers grew to about 40 people at a time.
Community Participation and Economic Impact
Customers balanced pumpkins on their bodies, helped each other load carts, and even filled wagons for $100. “It’s great to see families working together, kids helping their fathers stack pumpkins,” Buccholz said. Clark estimated that hundreds, possibly a few thousand, pumpkins were sold during the promotion, providing a boost to the farm’s seasonal revenue and clearing inventory for the upcoming holidays.
Beyond the sale, the event highlighted the farm’s broader role in preserving local farmland. Clark expressed hope that visitors from near and far would appreciate the region’s agricultural heritage: “We have thousands of acres of preserved farmland here in Matunuck, and it’s wonderful to share that with the community.” He hinted at even larger ideas for next year’s Fall Fest, promising new attractions and continued family‑friendly entertainment.
Looking Ahead
The promotion will remain open to the public for several more days, with updates posted on the farm’s social‑media channels. As the season transitions toward Thanksgiving, Clark and Buccholz plan to continue offering family‑oriented activities that celebrate the harvest and strengthen community ties.
Clark Farm’s all‑you‑can‑carry pumpkin sale exemplifies how local businesses can combine tradition, creativity, and affordable fun to bring neighbors together, support the local economy, and honor the agricultural roots of South Kingstown.
Original reporting: NBC 10 WJAR (Sinclair) – local — read the source article.
