Local florists, farmers featured at Discovery Park of America’s Pumpkin Village

UNION CITY, Tenn. — Discovery Park of America’s Pumpkin Village returns this year with a few twists and it’s all about incorporating the local community into the museum and heritage park.

The Pumpkin Village is back again with plenty of fun for the kids and a chance for parents to get out and enjoy the fall weather.

“This year, we went all out for Pumpkin Village. Of course, we’ve been doing Pumpkin Village every year, for a number of years, and a lot of times we will have a theme. Well, this year it’s a celebration of fall,” said Scott Williams, CEO for Discovery Park of America.

A celebration of fall with nearly ten tons of pumpkins! You can take pictures with pumpkins, play on pumpkins and even bowl with pumpkins this year at Discovery Park of America’s Pumpkin Village.

This is the 8th year for the attraction at the museum, although it hasn’t been featured every year in a row.

“We brought it back by popular demand. We would get so many phone calls are you bringing back Pumpkin Village? So we thought ‘Hey, let’s bring it back!’ We brought it back last year and this year we wanted to really do it up. It’s bigger and better than we’ve ever done it,” said Williams.

There’s a corn pit, pumpkin bowling, photos opportunities and heritage history throughout the settlement families can learn about.

This year, local florists and pumpkin farmers throughout West Tennessee and the western Kentucky region decorated their own areas inside of the settlement.

“We were looking for way to include more of our friends out in the community in Pumpkin Village and so we thought what better way to celebrate than to let them come in and set up and decorate part of it,” said Williams.

The park is also having local students get in on the fall fun.

“They are being extra creative! We have involved one of our high schools here in town, and they brought their art class out and they are going to be painting some hay bales for us,” said John Watkins, grounds director for Discovery Park of America.

Pumpkin Village is free with park admission of membership. Membership are available on their website.

Friday night, under the stars at Pumpkin Village, there will be a showing of Hotel Transylvania. Guests are welcome to explore Pumpkin Village and take part in the fall-themed activities starting at 6 p.m. The film will begin at 7 p.m.

For more local news, click here.