Pumpkins, plants, face painting and a petting farm. Those are just a few of the highlights at the annual Pumpkin Patch, Saturday, Oct. 27, at the Davis Farmers Market.
The event, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., has all of the usual Saturday market vendors, with fruit, veggies, nuts, bread, breakfast, lunch and coffee. But this annual event has lots of extras that celebrate the fall harvest and mark the transition to a Winter Market schedule on Wednesdays. Come in costume and enjoy the many activities in Central Park, 301 C St.
Soroptimist International of Davis will have free pumpkins for youngsters, face painting, pumpkin painting and games. Soroptimists work to educate and empower women and girls, and they give out free pumpkins to thank the community for supporting their beer and wine booth at Picnic in the Park, which supports its programs.
There’s lots going on, for children and adults. All About a Farm will bring its mobile petting farm, giving patrons a chance to pet clean, happy goats and other ranch animals. There’s also live music, with The Putah Creek Crawdads performing at the large oak tree and Guitar Mac playing near the market shed.
The Central Park Gardens, along Third Street, will host an open house and plant sale, starting at 9 a.m. Water-wise natives, perennials, herbs, grasses, vegetables, succulents and bulbs – many of which grow in the gardens – will be on sale. UC Master Gardeners will be on hand to answer questions. See the new California Native Plant Garden, which showcases drought-tolerant, versatile and diverse plants that provide vital pollen and nectar resources for insects and birds.
Representatives from Yolo Food Bank will be at the market, presenting its Plant a Seed activity. In it, children select a Yolo Grown pot, fill it with soil and add a seed. They take the pot home and watch their seedling grow. The Food Bank’s Yolo Grown program connects local growers with Yolo County residents with food insecurities.
Davis is known for its farmers markets. The Saturday market runs year-round from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Its Wednesday Picnic in the Park is open 4:30 p.m. to sunset through Oct. 24, resuming March 13. On Oct. 31, the Winter Market returns, from 3 to 6 p.m. on Wednesdays. On Halloween, the market is a stop along the Davis Downtown Treat Trail, starting at 2 p.m. Partner markets are the UC Davis Farmers Market, from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Wednesdays on the Quad, fall and spring quarters; and the Sutter Davis Hospital Farmers Market, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursdays through Oct. 25, at the hospital entrance.
