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Pumpkin patch adventure a success

A beautiful sunny day and a field full of bright orange pumpkins welcomed train goers on Saturday, Oct. 18 during the inaugural
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Pumpkin hunters pour from the Alberta Prairie Railroad train to swarm over the Stettler-area pumpkin patch during the inaugural autumn event.

A beautiful sunny day and a field full of bright orange pumpkins welcomed train goers on Saturday, Oct. 18 during the inaugural Pumpkin Express.

Hosted by Alberta Prairie Railway, the train ride brought riders south of Stettler to a location near Warren, where they could choose their very own pumpkin from the thousands laid out and about.

After the pumpkin was chosen, parents and kids headed into a big tent to enjoy free juice, coffee, water and pumpkin fudge and cookies. Hotdogs were also on sale.

The idea for the Pumpkin Express was planted late last year when the business was looking for an end-of-season type of event.

With harvest in and Halloween around the corner, a pumpkin patch picking ride seemed the perfect fit, especially since there was no similar events happening in the area.

More than 25 staff were on hand to serve out goodies and help people on and off the train, with everyone on site in costumes. In one part of the patch, Batman helped children pick out their pumpkins, while in another part, a vampires braved the sunlight and handed out candy to adults and children alike.

The event cost $30 for the round-trip ride and pumpkin.

Almost 1,400 people rode the train on Saturday to get their pumpkins in, and the only hitches in the event were the ones holding the 10 train cars to the two engines.

The train loaded its passengers at the station in Stettler before chugging away to the Pumpkin patch and letting them loose, while the previous ride’s passengers would then embark for the trip home. The round-trip took about an hour, giving people plenty of time to pick their pumpkins and have something to eat and drink.