BARK RIVER, Mich. (WZMQ) – As temperatures begin to cool down, local pumpkin patches are starting to open for another season.
For Porath Pumpkin Patch, located at 5299 F Road in Bark River, 2026 marks twelve years of growing pumpkins and gourds.
“We started very small when our youngest was little,” said co-owner Jessica Porath. “Every year, our family and our pumpkin patch has gotten bigger and bigger.”
This year’s crop includes about 100 varieties. Each autumn, the Poraths sell thousands of pumpkins.
“Early in the season, a lot of people enjoy the specialty pumpkins—warted ones, the pinks and blues, white pumpkins are always really popular for us,” Porath said. “Later in the season, you get carving pumpkins. Everybody wants to make jack-o’-lanterns right before Halloween, so our taller orange pumpkins kind of become what the go-to is.”
A precipitation-heavy spring and early summer made for a strong start to the growing season.
“The pumpkins germinated really nice,” said Porath. “Then in July and August, the rain kind of shut off here.”
That resulted in some slowed growth, as well as early ripening.
“Our Atlantic giants and things like that didn’t grow as large as they typically do on a nice wet year, but still, I think we’ll have plenty of pumpkins for people to come out and enjoy,” Porath said.
The weather had similar effects on the corn field, which the Poraths have once again turned into a maze.
“We added some kind of spooky elements, and then we also did a storybook walk for little kids,” said Porath. “We also have a petting zoo for our guests to enjoy—goats, sheep, ducks, and some bunnies for the kids to play with.”
Visitors will also find kids’ activities, photo opportunities, ornamental corn bundles for sale, and even a mini farmers market on Fridays from 4 to 6 p.m. and Saturdays from noon to 6 p.m.
“Our Amish friends sell their baked goods and their canned goods,” Porath said. “They just have a great array of snacks and food and things like that for our guests to enjoy.”
With the cost of almost everything still trending upward for families, Porath says a trip to the pumpkin patch is affordable fall fun.
“With the community’s support, we’ve been able to sell enough pumpkins that we’ve been able to keep our prices the same since the beginning,” she said. “It’s been a great experience. We want to offer something that they can come out with the family. We just really enjoy doing this, so we hope we can keep doing it for lots of years to come.”
Porath Pumpkin Patch & Family Farm is open daily from sun up to sun down through the end of October. Cash and check payments are accepted, and a self-payment box is set up.
Currently, roadwork is underway in the area near the pumpkin patch. Visitors are advised to travel down 14th Road, then take the highway toward Feltch.
