Calhoun County’s first pumpkin patch opens at Pine Holler Farm

CALHOUN COUNTY, Fla. – Pine Holler’s first annual fall festival kicked off Saturday in Calhoun County. It is making history as the county’s first pumpkin patch, selling jack-o-lantern style carving pumpkins.

The owners are first-generation farmers and plan to eventually sell pumpkins grown locally from their farm.

“Me and my wife have always wanted to do something that our family could be a part of. So this was, I guess, one of those things that allowed us to do it with our help of our kids and our family and provide something for the community to have on it,” Pine Holler Owner David Norwood said.

Pine Holler is more than just a pumpkin patch; it’s a family fun farm.

“Corn pit, you can play in the tires, you can find somewhere, and just play,” Pine Holler visitor Hunter Norwood said.

“The kids have tons of stuff to do. Tractor tire, playground swing set slides, 75, 30 bounce pad out there, a bunch of small bounce pads. We have all kind of yard games and stuff for the kids. Train ride wagon, train ride for the kids, and hay wagon ride for the kids. And then we have in the back a maze,” David Norwood said.

They hope to draw in visitors from across the Panhandle.

“We’re gonna, you know, hopefully be able to market to the outside areas of Jackson County, Gulf County homes, county, all these Panhandle communities outside of Calhoun, and bring them in because like I said, there’s not too many pumpkin patches going on in northwest Florida. So we’re excited to be one of the few over here in Calhoun County with Pine Holler. So we’re so happy to have them in our community,” Calhoun County Community Foundation President Jami Joe said.

“This is kind of the smaller rural community, and they don’t really have a lot of stuff like this. And having owners that are really invested in a local in the community is a big deal. You know, we have a lot of local businesses here and things that will help draw it in, and I think it’ll just be a fun hangout spot,” Pine Holler staff member Kelsey Whitmer said.

Tickets cost $10 per person, and children under 2 years old can enter for free.

Pine Holler plans to host a winter festival in December and a strawberry social in the Spring.

For ticket information, click here.