QUEEN CREEK, Ariz. — The annual Schnepf Farms Pumpkin and Chili Party is underway with a new spooky attraction.
Mostly known for its peaches, the Queen Creek farm completely transforms during the Halloween season into one of the biggest fall festivals in the Valley.
"My beautiful wife Carrie and I, we have been doing agriculture entertainment here for nearly 30 years," said owner Mark Schnepf.
The festival adds a new attraction each year, Schnepf said, and this year's new addition is a nightmare on wheels called "The Wreckoning," which is fueled by fear, of course.
"So it's an additional charge, it's $3 to go through the haunted bus called 'The Wreckoning.' But it's really cool, it's going to be fun for those who like a little scare," Schnepf said.
The festival still has all its old favorites:
- 4-acre pumpkin patch
- 10-acre celebrity maze
- 4-acre corn maze
- zip lines
- mini golf
- amusement park rides
- Hyperloop
- Scarecrow making
- Hillbilly Bobs pig races
- Hayrides
- Live music
- Marshmallow roasting
- train ride
"We have two mazes: one is a little maze which maybe takes 10 minutes to get through, the other one is a big maze, our celebrity maze, and that can take as long as 40 minutes," he added.
If you're looking for a seasonal position, Schnepf Farms is currently looking to hire dozens of people to help out with the Pumpkin & Chili party.
"Schnepf Farms is experiencing the labor shortage like everyone else," Schnepf said. "Normally we hire about 200 people to help run this event and we haven't been able to find that so we're still hiring if people want to come out and apply for a job."
The event runs Thursday thru Sunday each week until Oct. 31. Buy your tickets ahead of time because there is a capacity limit.
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