Newport This Week

The Popular Pumpkin Patch Returns



Trinity’s Pumpkin Patch in Queen Anne Square

Trinity’s Pumpkin Patch in Queen Anne Square

The pumpkins have officially arrived in Queen Anne Square. The annual Trinity Church Pumpkin Patch returned to the square last weekend and will remain through Oct. 31.

The 11th annual event had an exciting addition this year with a rare appearance by the Tinney family’s gold coronation coach, as well as a photo opportunity with “Cinderella” herself, a.k.a. Molly Andrade of Miss Rhode Island fame. The 18th century replica coach was built between 1966 and 1969 and only makes limited appearances, so it was a treat for visitors to see it, and even have the opportunity to get their photos taken aboard for a small donation.

Perhaps even more exciting for some were the celebrity sightings that took place on Oct. 19. Cameron Diaz and Nicole Ritchie, in town for Jennifer Lawrence’s wedding, paid a visit to the patch, stopping to chat with volunteers and sip on cider.

“It was just a wonderful day,“ said Debby Lengyel, who co-founded the event along with her partner and fellow parishioner, Diane Myers.

The beautiful weather made for a great opening weekend for the beloved family-friendly event, which fills Queen Anne Square with color every autumn, as bright orange pumpkin displays take over the lawn. The event used to open Columbus Day weekend, but has been moved back a weekend the past few years, causing the phones to ring off the hook at Trinity Church.

“We received hundreds of calls,” said Lengyel. “Every year people are calling to inquire about when we’re opening. They just love it,” she said.

It’s truly a community-focused event, where families return year after year to take photos of their kids (and pets), pick out pumpkins and just enjoy the day. Also available for purchase are gourds and mums, handmade crafts, hot and cold apple cider, fresh baked goods, and homemade pumpkin chili on the weekends.

All proceeds go to support the church, as well as local and overseas outreach programs, including the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center, Seamen’s Church Institute, Rogers High School, Salve Regina University and the San Juan School in Honduras. They also support Rising, a Rhode Island based nonprofit songwriting organization, which provides live music on the weekends.

The event is entirely staffed by volunteers, and all baked goods are donated or made by parishioners. Salve students volunteered to help unload the pumpkins, receiving a free meal and a pumpkin for their time.

On Mondays, when the church offers its community meal to those in need, diners can also take home a free pumpkin.

When the event started, the church had just 75 parishioners. Within three years that number doubled, which Lengyel believes is due in part to the success of the Pumpkin Patch. “It’s our baby,” she said.

The Pumpkin Patch is open weekdays from noon to 6 p.m., and weekends from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. through Oct. 31. There will be a costume parade for children and pets on Oct. 29 at 1 p.m.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.