HARPERSVILLE – Pumpkin harvest hours have begun at Old Baker Farm, which is planning for its annual lineup of festivals and adding some new attractions to the mix.

Harvest hours began Sept. 30 and last through Oct. 31, from 3 p.m. to dark on weekdays, 9 a.m. to dark on Saturdays and 1 p.m. to dark on Sundays.

The entry fee is $10 per person, with children under the age of 2 free, including a pumpkin and all events except food, arts and crafts and horseback rides.

Cash and check are accepted.

Many schools take field trips to the farm outside the regular hours of operation.

“We’ve already had schoolchildren out learning about the farm,” said Pam Baker with Old Baker Farm. “That’s always a good time.”

Old Baker Farm grows 15 varieties of pumpkins in six fields on a rotating basis.

Still, with about 15,000 to 20,000 people coming through on an average year, the number of pumpkins grown is not enough and the crop is supplemented with pumpkins from another Alabama grower.

“We cannot grow enough for the public, and we grow a lot,” Baker said.

Air-borne and soil-borne diseases are constant threats to the crop, Baker said, along with insects.

Still, visitors can rest assured that there will be pumpkins available.

Harpersville United Methodist Church has helped at the pumpkin patch for a number of years as a fundraising opportunity, and this year Vincent Revival Center will also have representatives on hand, hauling pumpkins and even helping load them into guests’ vehicle as they raise money for youth ministries.

The annual Cotton Pickin’ Celebration will be held Oct. 28-29, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day, with the same entry fee.

The farm is holding a Pumpkin Coloring Page contest for this year’s festival, with a chance to win a pedal-powered tractor.

Western Cowboy Day will be Oct. 14-15, with the regular hours.

The festival will include shootouts, Western music, hay wagon rides, hay mountain and more.

Children are invited to come dressed in Western attire.

New attractions included a finished log cabin, corn and games at the Feed Mill, and a 1029 A Model truck.

“Everything we do has to do with our history here and farming,” Jerry Baker said. “The only thing is we have two TVs at the concession stand so folks can watch the football games.”

Old Baker Farm is located at 184 Furrow Lane in Harpersville. For more information, visit OldBakerFarm.com.