photo of: Josie Heimsoth/Journal-Monde

Several pumpkins from South Baldwin Farms on Friday, October 25, 2023.

The Halloween season may be coming to an end, but there’s still time to get into the fall spirit at local farms and agricultural businesses.

From pumpkin patches to locally produced cider, these agricultural hubs offer unique experiences that capture the essence of the season. Here’s a closer look:

Baldwin South Farms, 22, chemin Est 1700

photo of: Josie Heimsoth/Journal-Monde

Gabe Spurgeon, co-owner of South Baldwin Farms, stands between the Pink Lady apple trees on Friday, October 25, 2024.

This farm maintains 70 acres and 100,000 fruit trees for wholesale as well as pick-your-own blackberries and pumpkins.

South Baldwin Farms is owned by Dave Miles and his son-in-law Gabe Spurgeon, both of whom have a passion for fruit trees and agriculture. Spurgeon, who previously had a background in engineering, grew up in southwest Missouri and worked many summers on a peach orchard.

Spurgeon told the Journal-World that during the fall season, he looks forward to the apple harvest. Current apple varieties include Evercrisp, Suncrisp, Autumncrisp, Granny Smith, Cameo, Braeburn, Pink Lady, Ludacrisp, Fuji and Baldwin.

“It’s a lot of work and long hours,” Spurgeon said. “We’re working seven days a week right now, but it feels like the whole year is coming together, pardon the pun.”

He said the farm is expected to produce more apples over the next five years, after trees planted in 2020 begin to bear fruit for the first time.

The farm’s store and pumpkin patch – which has between 25 and 35 different varieties of pumpkins – will open its final weekend November 1-3 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. All pumpkins and squash are grown on the farm and the market sells apples, apple cider, sparkling cider and fresh vegetables.

Z&M Twisted Vines Winery and Vineyard, 24305 Loring Road

photo of: Josie Heimsoth/Journal-Monde

Z&M Twisted Vineyard owners Bryan Zesiger and Gina Montalbano stand in the vineyard’s tasting room on Wednesday, October 23, 2024.

All of the vineyard’s wines are locally grown, sourced from the vineyard’s 30 acres of vines and bottled on site.

The vineyard is owned by Bryan Zesiger and Gina Montalbano, who both share a love of wine and community. The location offers different types of specialty wines, including their Blackhawk Blackberry wine, a jalapeño Hellfire wine, and Blacked Out coffee wines. Montalbano also added that the tasting room offers eight flavors of ciders, which can also be canned and taken home.

Z&M’s Lawrence location at 24305 Loring Road offers tours showcasing their wine cellar production, tasting room, wine hanger harvest center, and vineyards. There is also a fishing lake, fire pits, an outdoor pavilion and a historic barn.

On Halloween, the winery will host a candle-making workshop where participants can make two unique candles and get a drink for $45 plus tax. The event will take place at the Lawrence location at 7 p.m.

Additionally, there will be a 5K Vineyard run/jog/walk – known as the Vineyard Turkey Trot – in Lawrence on November 2 at 10 a.m. There is a $25 entry fee and all proceeds will be donated to Midland Care on November 2. Wheels; A Turkey Trot T-shirt is included in the ticket price. Check-in will be at 9 a.m. and the event will begin at 10 a.m. Halloween costumes are encouraged and the top three costumes will win a ham.

A few more opportunities

*Downtown Lawrence Inc. and its corporate partners will host a Trick or Treat event at 5 p.m. on October 31. Community members are invited to join the streets of downtown Lawrence as participating businesses hand out treats.

* Trivedi Wine, 1826 East 1150 Road, will host live music from Sugarfoot Detour on Nov. 2 from 3 to 5 p.m. Ragusa’s Italian Cafe will be the food truck hitting the winery this afternoon. Wine, beer and cider will be available for purchase.

* Meuschke Farms Pumpkin Patch and Corn Maze, 11722 246th St., always offers a wide variety of pumpkins to carve and decorate.

* Pendleton’s Country Market, 1446 East 1850 Road, is offering 50 percent off pumpkins this week.