Hunsader prepares for annual festival

EAST COUNTY — At Hunsader Farms in the East County, the Hunsader family is busy gearing up for its favorite part of the year — pumpkin time.

Hunsader Farms will host its annual Pumpkin Festival from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays Oct. 15 through Oct. 30, at the farm, 5500 County Road 675.

Admission costs $8 for adults. Children ages 12 and under are admitted free. Parking is $5 per vehicle.

Festivities include live music, hayrides, a corn maze, scarecrow displays, a smorgasbord of food, a petting zoo, a frog-jumping championship and more.

“It’s family oriented and there’s no alcohol,” event co-organizer David Hunsader said. “There’s something for (everyone).”

This year’s entertainment lineup, which varies by weekend, includes the Motorcross stunt show, a performance by the Smage Brothers from “America’s Got Talent,” juggling acts and the Yellow Design Stunt Team from “America’s Got Talent,” among others. New this year are The Hartzells Crossbows of Death, a crossbow show that has been featured on the David Letterman and Jay Leno shows, and the Oregon Aero Sky Dancer aerobatic planes show.

Videos of many of the acts and a complete schedule of events, may be viewed online at www.hunsaderfarms.com.

Additionally, Hunsader will host a costume contest and trick-or-treating for children in costume Oct. 30.

Although entertainment and most activities are included in the cost of admission, there are some additional charges. Five corn-cannon shots and a walk through the corn maze cost $2 each, while swamp buggy rides cost $5. Other attractions brought in from outside sources have their own prices. Charity pumpkin games have separate costs, as well.

Additionally, this year’s 10th annual Buddy Walk, benefiting Manasota B.U.D.S. (Bringing Up Down Syndrome), will be held at 11 a.m. Oct. 22 at the farm.

A $10 registration fee for the walk includes admission to the pumpkin festival as well as live music by The Florida Mountain Boys, free photo portraits by Studio B Photography, snow cones, face painting and other activities for families. Registration and festivities start at 9 a.m. Individuals with Down Syndrome participate for free, as do walkers under the age of 3.

“We’ve been around for 10 years now,” Manasota B.U.D.S. Executive Director Stacy Quaid said. “(People should come out) to show their support for individuals with Down syndrome. They’re a part of your community.”

The annual walk is one of more than 250 such events scheduled nationwide this fall to help raise awareness and funds for programs that benefit individuals with Down syndrome and their families.

Contact Pam Eubanks at [email protected].

Partial schedule of events
• Oct. 15 — Night Train Band, Buffalo Country Band, Country Rhythm Cloggers, Buckshot Cloggers, Yellow Design Stunt Team from “America’s Got Talent,” The Hartzells Crossbows of Death
• Oct. 16 — Buffalo Country Band, Sweeney Family Band, Clogging Clovers, Yellow Design Stunt Team,” The Hartzells Crossbows of Death
• Oct. 22 — Night Train Band, Southern Express Bluegrass, Sweeney Family Band, Palmetto and Southeast High School Dancers, the Motocross stunt show, Yellow Design Stunt Team from “America’s Got Talent,” The Hartzells Crossbows of Death
• Oct. 23 — Night Train Band, Southern Express Bluegrass, Sweeney Family Band, Dance Theatre of Bradenton, Gulf Coast Cloggers, the Motocross stunt show, Yellow Design Stunt Team from “America’s Got Talent,” Collector Car show, The Hartzells Crossbows of Death
• Oct. 29 —Night Train Band, Southern Express Bluegrass, Sweeney Family Band, Lakewood Ranch Silver Stars, Bayshore Cloggers, The Smage Brothers from “America’s Got Talent,” The Hartzells Crossbows of Death
• Oct 30 — Day includes a children’s costume contest and trick-or-treating for children in costume. Costume contest age categories go from infant to 10 years old. Day also includes live music and shows such as The Smage Brothers and The Hartzells Crossbows of Death

10th Annual Buddy Walk
When: 9 a.m. to noon, Oct. 22
Where: Hunsader Farms, 5500 County Road 675
Cost: $10 (includes admission to Pumpkin Festival). Individuals with Down syndrome and children under age 3 participate for free.
Details: Registration starts at 9 a.m. Walk starts at 11 a.m.
Info: www.manasotabuds.org

Hunsader Farms Pumpkin Festival
When: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 15-16, Oct. 22-23 and Oct. 29-30.
Where: Hunsader Farms, 5500 County Road 675
Cost: $8 for general admission. Children 12 and under are admitted free. Parking is $5 per vehicle.
Details: Event includes more than 100 craft and antique vendors, live music and shows, games for children, hayrides, food and more. Some activities cost extra.
Info: www.hunsaderfarms.com