At Tyler Arboretum, pumpkins will prevail

Posted by ChaddsFordLive on October 12, 2015

A young girl shows her enthusiasm during the 2014 Pumpkin Days at Tyler Arboretum. This year's family-friendly festivities are scheduled for Oct. 17 and 18. Photo courtesy of Tyler Arboretum

As many area residents already know, Tyler Arboretum’s Pumpkin Days represents a beloved fall ritual at one of the oldest and largest arboreta in the northeastern U.S.

A plethora of pumpkins will mark the 37th Annual Pumpkin Days at Tyler Arboretum on Saturday, Oct. 10, and Sunday, Oct. 11. — A plethora of pumpkins will mark the 37th Annual Pumpkin Days at Tyler Arboretum on Saturday, Oct. 17, and Sunday, Oct. 18.

Now in its 37^th year, Pumpkin Days will welcome attendees who once came as children and are now bringing their own kids to the family-friendly festival. It will be held rain or shine on Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 17 and 18, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day.

“Pumpkin Days first began in 1978 and is Tyler’s oldest, most-loved community event. What started as a group of young families getting together to celebrate fall while helping Tyler has blossomed into one of our most successful events,” Gary Bloomer, Tyler Arboretum’s communications manager, said in a press release. “In 2014 we hosted 3,200 visitors in two days.”

Visitors of all ages can enjoy two full days of activities, including picking out a prized pumpkin, listening to live music, assembling a scarecrow to take home, viewing the fall foliage from a hay wagon ride, or racing through an inflatable obstacle course. This year for the first time, a selection of food trucks will be on site, including Bonjour Creperie and Sweet Box Cupcakes, the release said.

Thanks to support from Wawa, general admission to Pumpkin Days is free for Tyler Arboretum members; no pre-registration is required. Non-member admission is: $11 for adults, $7 for children ages 3 to 15, and free for children under 3. In addition to numerous free activities, including crafts, games, demonstrations, and musical entertainment, a handful of activities will require tickets available for sale inside the event.

To avoid congestion on Painter Road and Barren Road, ample, free parking will be available at the nearby Penn State Brandywine campus, 25 Yearsley Mill Rd, Media, 19063. Visitors will be able to catch the free shuttle bus, which can accommodate strollers. Parking at the arboretum will be reserved for visitors with disabilities, the release said.

Tyler Arboretum, which boasts 650 acres of meadows, wetlands, and unbroken forest accessible through more than 17 miles of hiking trails, is located at 515 Painter Road, Media, Pa., 19063. For more information, call 610-566-9134 or visit www.tylerarboretum.org.