The Patch opens in Santa Maria as fall gets underway

A pumpkin patch created by Santa Maria students opened to the public Friday.

The Patch will be open through October 27 from 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. daily. It’s located at Las Flores Ranch Park, at 6245 Dominion Road.

Local high school students learned how to grow pumpkins and fresh produce, which will be up for sale. They grew a total of three acres of pumpkins, two acres of corn, and other produce.

The Patch also has a corn maze, food vendors, agricultural exhibit, animal exhibit, games, live music, and a craft area.

The Patch is a partnership between the city’s Recreation and Parks Department and Betteravia Farms. The goal is to help local students learn about agriculture. More than 60 high school students in the Santa Maria Valley took part in monthly workdays and outreach programs to learn about crop production.

There are different events held every week. For the full schedule, click here.