Halloween at Broadgate Farm

Halloween Pumpkin Picking!

Halloween is nearly upon us! We at Broadgate Farm Cottages have been preparing by buying some pumpkins from Tickton Pumpkin patch!

With only days until Halloween we've been getting ready to celebrate with pumpkins tricks and treats. Halloween falls in half term this year so we're trying to make our self-catering cottages as festive as possible, any kids staying this year will have a spooky pumpkin waiting outside for them!

We took a trip to Tickton farm pumpkin patch and chose the cutest and most promising looking pumpkins to decorate. They had a great array of different kinds of pumpkins to choose from.

carved pumpkins in front of stable cottage

A Fun Day Out

Tickton pumpkin patch is only 10 minutes drive from our holiday cottages and it was super cute, rows of pumpkins in varying sizes, shades, and shapes, set against the backdrop of a charming farm. It was not only a pumpkin paradise but also a haven for photo enthusiasts: there are plenty of photo opportunities which would be perfect if you’re coming with young children.

They also have a charity stall selling Halloween decorations! The pumpkins range from £1 for a small one to £15 for the large white one we got.

carved pumpkins on a bench

Pumpkin Carving

Now it’s time for the fun part, so I enlisted my most artistic friend, Tara, to help!

First cut a lid in your pumpkin and scoop out the insides. I found a combination of a knife and spoon perfect to get the guts out fastest! Then we used sharpie to mark out our designs and got cutting, watch your fingers! When you’re done remove any remaining sharpie marks with hand sanitiser and a cloth. After a few hours and a lot of laughs we got them done.

pumpkins around the fireball

Photoshoot!

To ensure our creations lasted as long as possible, we focused on drying out the insides. We used kitchen paper to absorb any remaining moisture, a technique that promised to extend the lifespan of our pumpkin creations. To seal the deal, quite literally, we sprayed our designs with hairspray to ensure they look fresh for as long as possible.

Then its photoshoot time! So I carted them around the holiday cottages one morning taking pics. To vote on your favourite pumpkin check out our facebook poll!

nightime with lit pumpkins
suspicious carved pumpkin
Ghost carved pumpkin
cat carved pumpkin
nightime with lit pumpkins
pumpkins around the fireball
family roasting marshmallows around a firepit at broadgate farm holiday cottages near beverley
carved pumpkins in front of stable cottage

No Pumpkins Wasted!

Waste not want not! And so the family set about using up every part of the pumpkin guts possible. Dad took seeds from the white and orange pumpkins to grow for next year, and Mum made our favourite autumnal treat: pumpkin soup.

Mum's Homemade Pumpkin Soup Recipe

1) Dice an onion, cook until soft and translucent

2) Chop pumpkin into chunks and add to onion, cook until soft

3) Add vegetable stock, season and leave to cook for 30 minutes and pumpkin is fully softened

4) Liquidise and add a dash of double cream to create a creamy smooth soup - Enjoy!

I'm Lauren, Elaine & Steve's daughter and I've lived on the farm since I was 6. I will be writing more posts about things to do and places to see in the area- watch this space.

mums pumpkin soup

Related news

rolling green countryside Top 5 Reasons to Book a Cottage Break in Yorkshire
Sheep and her lamb in the paddock outside Forge cottage Broadgate Farm Experience