Rock Springs, WY – A long-standing tradition returns to Downtown Rock Springs when the Pumpkin Patch opens on October 10. The Pumpkin Patch begins at noon Saturday, October 10 and will run through Oct. 24. The patch hours are noon to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday in Bank Court between Broadway and South Main Street.
Admission is free, but the pumpkins are $5 each. Not only can you pick up your Halloween pumpkin at the Patch, but great photo opportunities abound in Bank Court. Last year the Rock Springs Main Street/URA commissioned local artist Kaye Tyler to create photo boards for the Patch. Each board features a unique fall theme.
Additionally, the Pumpkin Patch is open to school tours by contacting the Rock Springs Main Street/URA Office at 307-352-1434. The tours provide facts and trivia about pumpkins, Halloween and autumn. The tours are led by Main Street administrative assistant Terri Nations.
“We are excited this year, because the pumpkins are once again Wyoming grown. It was important to us to try to find pumpkins in the state, so we searched and we found them in Riverton,” said Rock Springs Main Street/URA manager Chad Banks.
Banks said 20,000 pounds of pumpkins were ordered for this year’s event.
The pumpkins will arrive in Rock Springs next week. According to Banks, Deputy Matt Weber of the Sweetwater County Sheriff’s Office and inmates from the Sweetwater County Detention Center will help unload them.
This year several additional events will accompany the Pumpkin Patch including a Starve a Vampire Blood Drive, HOWL-O-ween Pet Costume Contest and the annual Halloween Stroll.
Sponsored by the United Blood Services and RSNB Bank, the Starve and Vampire Blood Drive will take place on October 10 from 11 am to 3 pm in the Historic Train Depot. To save time on the day of the drive, those wishing to donate blood can schedule an appointment at < https://www.bloodhero.com/>. Donors will receive donuts from Cowboy Donuts, Halloween themed candy apples, along with other Spooktacular goodies to be announced.
Saturday, October 17 will be the first annual HOWL-O-ween Pet Costume Contest. The contest is open to ANY pet, so long as they are children and crowd friendly. The contest will also be held in the historic train depot. Entries will be accepted the day of the event from 12:30 p.m. to 1:00 p.m., when the contest begins. There is no cost to enter. Prizes include:
- 1st Place Prize: $50 Gift Certificate Zoobeck’s
- 2nd Place Prize: $35 Gift Certificate Zoobeck’s
- 3rd Place Prize: $20 Gift Certificate Zoobeck’s
As a reminder, dogs must be leashed, per city ordinance.
Finally, the annual Halloween Stroll is set for October 24 in Downtown Rock Springs. Children and adults of any age are invited to dress up in their favorite costume and “stroll” Downtown Rock Springs trick-or-treating. The Halloween Stroll runs from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
The event officially kicks off at the Rock Springs Historic Museum where strollers can pick up a goodie bag and map of participating merchants. However, people can begin the stroll at any of the participating merchants who will provide candy and other treats at most of the businesses on both sides of the downtown railroad tracks. Strollers are encouraged to use the Art Underground Gallery, located in the pedestrian underpass, to access both sides of the railroad tracks.
The list of participating merchants is still being finalized but will be ready at the stroll and released on the Downtown Rock Springs Facebook page.
