Burlington Pumpkin Patch Returns to St. Mark’s Church for Its 12th Year of Fall Fun

Like Linus in It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown, we are all on the hunt to find the perfect pumpkin to ring in the Fall season. Whether you are looking for one with some personality, a set with splashes of different colors, or a perfect orb in candy-corn orange, the Burlington Pumpkin Patch at St Mark’s Episcopal Church is sure to have one – or many! – you’ll love.

Committee member Laura Parrillo said the patch, now in its twelfth year, features an estimated 1,292 pumpkins for community members and visitors to choose from. The pumpkins come from a Navajo reservation in New Mexico, said Parrillo. “Knowing that they travel thousands of miles just to be in Burlington,” she said, is "a neat thing to think about.”

All proceeds from the patch go to its partner, People Helping People – the nonprofit organization that administers Burlington’s food pantry – which Parrillo said is a “vital organization for the community.” For many, this partnership has become a tradition for Fall festivities in Burlington. “People are getting involved with both volunteering, selling the pumpkins and also unloading the pumpkins,” said Parrillo, in addition to buying their own gourds to benefit the foundation. 

The setup for the event typically starts two weeks before October 1, said Parrillo. The first phase is creating the wooden pallets which the pumpkins will be placed on, and the weekend before opening is spent unloading the truckload of pumpkins once they arrive at St. Mark’s.

Parillo said the hard work contributed by the fully-volunteer staff and community members is what truly brings this event to life. This year, helping hands have come from high school students, Girl Scouts, members of St. Veronica’s Parish Confirmation program, members of St. Mark’s Church, and more. Members of the Pumpkin Patch committee have also reached out to local businesses to offer volunteer opportunities, and Parrillo said she has been spreading the word on Facebook to get the community involved as much as possible. 

“I think people look forward to being a part of that … and People Helping People is certainly the uniting factor,” said Parrillo, and something community members want to commit to supporting – either by volunteering or by making a purchase. 

Parillo said a highlight of her time at the patch is seeing families fill their wagons to the brim with pumpkins and hearing how they’ll put their own creative spin on them. Whether it’s painting, carving, or even getting the kids together for the perfect photo op, she said a day at the patch makes for the perfect day with the whole family. 

Being a part of this tradition has come full circle for Parrillo. Her children grew up by her side in the pumpkin patch, helping sell pumpkins and choosing their own to take home. Now that they’re in high school, they help unload and set up, too. 

Parrillo said she knows “New Englanders love their pumpkins once you can see the leaves falling off the trees,” and hopes that visitors have a pleasant time visiting the patch and knowing that their contributions are going towards a good cause. 

The Burlington Pumpkin Patch is open daily through October 31, Monday through Friday from 12PM to 6PM, and Saturday and Sunday from 11AM to 6PM.