How to Host a Playdate @ Tanaka Farms Pumpkin Patch and Save Money

We love Tanaka Farms! It's organic, educational, healthy, and we get to sample various produces on the wagon tour - what's not to love? Although we try every year to attend at least one (or all) of their seasonal famous tours (see also Strawberry and Watermelon), let's face it - it's not cheap. 

Here's how you can experience Tanaka Farms and save money. Maybe you're not a planner, but I've done a few of these, and it's not as bad as you may think.  Let me show you how easy it really is to plan your own play date. Communication is key and practice, it's gets better each time.

Form a Play Group

We all know that they have group rates, but how do we gather up enough interest? Even if we invited all our family members, what if they don't have kids? (You'll need at least 10 paying kids to qualify).


HOT TIP: Form a Play Group with kids around the same age.

Go to Back-to-School Night, meet the other parents, and form a network. Your kids are spending a lot of time with these kids all year round so you want to create opportunities for them to socialize outside of school and homework. See my recent post about "How to Form a Play Group to Save Money" to see how easy it is.

• Invite Families from School
• Invite your Neighbors
• Invite Families with Kids
• Invite Family

Overcome Commitment Challenges

Ok now that you develop an interested group, getting families to commit can be a bit of a challenge. What now? Create an online event and make it easy to RSVP via evite.com or facebook.com. I like Facebook because who isn't on FB these days, but then again, I met a few recently that doesn't - hmmm...

Evite.com is another great option. It's free and all you'll need are emails.

• Set a Date. Give families two date options and let them vote. Choose the date with the most turnout.
  
• Invite at least 20 families. The more you invite, the better your chances of meeting the group minimum.
• Do it early! I plan events 2-3 months out. If you want a good turnout, plan your events early with a "Save the Date!"
• Send out reminders. You'll need a close head count because Tanaka only wants one payment from the group. Keep in mind this is a very popular event. Don't forget to remind them to bring cash. Send it out one month prior, two weeks prior, and then a final head count one week before with totals.
• Close the RSVP List a week before the event. You want "committed" families. If they're not commited by then, then they probably won't show up anyway, and you don't want to include them as part of the "solid" numbers.
• Lastly, ask parents if they want extra pumpkins. If parents are willing to pay an extra $6 for extra pumpkins, this will count toward the 10 paying kids (meaning you're converting an adult fare into a child fare). Chances are some will want extras to take home anyway.

How to Get People to Show Up on Time

Waiting Tent

Most people need about 15-30 minutes to fight traffic, find parking, find YOU. If the tour starts at 11am, set the event time at 10:30am. Be sure to include a contact number so they can inform you with last minute changes (even morning of - who knows if a kid get sick, etc). Don't be mad either. This is expected.

Collecting Money

This is probably the hard part, but it doesn't have to be. I created a spreadsheet in Excel and brought it with me. I also send out reminders a week before exactly how much cash they should bring with them.

Tanaka's Pumpkin Patch Tour

Open daily from 9 am - 6 pm 

Now thru October 31st! 

5380 3/4 University Dr. 

Irvine, CA 92612

(949) 653-2100

www.tanakafarms.com

  

The Pumpkin Patch Tour is slightly different than the Strawberry and the Watermelon. It's different because YOU are the Tour Guide for your group. Have a game plan, an itinerary, and bring water because you'll be thirsty. Plan to be there at least a couple of hours. The best part is you can go at your own pace. I remember last year after we checked-in, we all made a bathroom stop, took group pictures while we waited, and everyone was good to go. Some don't make it all the way to the end because of tantrums, etc, but it's ok. Don't worry about that. After you make your group reservation, Tanaka Farms will email you with instructions. Print that out and your RSVP list and you're good to go.

We love the Pumpkin Patch Tour and we love the group rates because we're saving some money while we're having fun. The group rates are $6 per adult, $12 per child, kids 2 and under are free. It includes:

U-Pick Vegetables

• Wagon Ride around their 30 acre farm
• Pick your own vegetables
• Petting Zoo (sheep, goats and alpacas)
• Lots of Photo opps
• Kid-friendly Corn Maze
• Pick your own pumpkin right off the vine
• Weekends include Fall Harvest

Compare this to Regular Rates (NOT Group Rates):

• Wagon Ride - $5 ages 2 and under free
• Petting Zoo - $3 ages 2 and under free
• Corn Maze - No Charge
• U-Pick Vegetables - $2.99 a pound
• U-Pick Pumpkins - Sliding Scale by the lb
• Games, Arts and Crafts, Food (Weekends only)

We did the math, there are definitely some savings there and the best part is creating a fun tradition with your family and friends. PLUS you get a pumpkin included in the children's price. Note: there is no weight limit but child must carry their own without adult assistance.


School and Group Tours: To make a group reservation of 10 or more paying children, please call (949) 653-2100 Ext. 204. Reservations are necessary to qualify for group rates. The least crowded times are between 11am-5pm. Please book your times early.


What to Pack:

• Snacks, 
• Hand Sanitizers, 
• Bottled Water, 
• Comfortable shoes (no open-toed shoes or flip flops)
• Sunblock, and 



Corn Maze

• Hats - shade is limited on the farm.

Suggested Itinerary:

1. Check-In
2. Bathroom Breaks while they wait for the rest
3. Group Pictures
4. Wagon Ride
5. Petting Zoo
6. U-Pick Pumpkins
7. Optional: U-Pick Vegetables (Even though I love this part but some kids don't last that long. Pick pumpkins if that's the last thing you do).
8. Optional: Corn Maze
9. Optional: Games, Arts, and Crafts

LARGE Pumkin Raffle Every Hour

Every weekend, enter to win a LARGE (50lb-100lb) pumpkin every hour. 

Winner must claim prize by the end of the day they have won. 

Free raffle. One ticket per family.

2012 Pumpkinmania Giant Pumpkin 
Weigh-off and Contest

Sunday, October 28, 2012
8 am - 12:30 pm

2012 SCHEDULE
8:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m. Registration of entries
11:30 a.m. Final weigh-off
12:00-12:30 p.m. Awards ceremony and thanks!