TWIG branches out with day of fall frolics

Fall weekends at Lynd Fruit Farm are routinely hopping with people picking ripe pumpkins andjuicy apples.

A special event Saturday, however, could draw even more visitors to the Pataskala farm and raisethousands of dollars for the neonatal intensive-care unit at Nationwide Children's Hospital.

Last year, the first TWIG Pumpkinpalooza generated $10,000 for the Memorial Tournament unit,according to Cindy Creedon, director of annual giving for the Nationwide Children's HospitalFoundation.

The unit, ranked by U.S. News & World Report as among the best in the United States, cared for 802 babiesin 2009, hospital spokeswoman Erin Pope said.

The event was conceived by Valantina McCrocklin, the chairwoman last year and a member of TWIG(Together With Important Goals) - an organization of women's groups that contribute hours andtalent to support the hospital.

Before the inaugural Pumpkinpalooza, the only other major fundraiser involving each of thegroups was the annual TWIG Bazaar in November.

"They wanted to create an event that was for families and children," Creedon said.

TWIG directed that the money be used for the neonatal unit.

"We know several families and friends who have had people (there)," said Terri Heaphy, a TWIGvolunteer and the chairwoman of the second Pumpkinpalooza.

"Because of that, we really just wanted to be able to support it."

The owners of Lynd Fruit Farm responded to the idea.

"It sounded like it might be a good chance to get people to the farm and benefit the hospital aswell," said Penny Lynd, who has assisted Heaphy with the event, which has added more attractionsfor children.

"We have four bounce houses, including one very large pumpkin," said Heaphy, who noted thatabout 80 TWIG members will take part as volunteers.

The activities will include fall photos along with face and hair painting, plus the usual LyndFruit Farm offerings - the corn mazes, a pumpkin patch just for Pumpkinpalooza, wagon rides, abarrel-train ride and more.

Brookside Maze Adventures, the event company running the maze for the farm, will give 50 percentof the Saturday proceeds from the maze to the neonatal unit, Heaphy said.

Also, the Lynd family plans to donate income from the wagon rides and Pumpkinpalooza patch.

"That was planted just for the TWIG folks," Lynd said. "It's a good-sized little patch forthem."

Many of the food vendors have noted an intention to forward some of the Saturday proceeds;meanwhile, several central Ohio companies have donated items for a raffle.

Last year, the gathering attracted about 1,500 people.

"We're hoping for quite a bit more this year," Heaphy said. "We were able to donate $10,000 lastyear, and we would like to exceed that.

"It really is a community-oriented event to help the hospital." Michele Lemmon is a Columbus freelance writer.

A sample of seasonal happenings in central Ohio:

Cedar Point, 1 Cedar Point Dr., Sandusky - HalloWeekends, 6 p.m. to midnight Fridays, noon tomidnight Saturdays, noon to 9 p.m. Sundays (10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Oct. 10), through Oct. 31; $19.99 to$45.99 (419-627-2350, www.halloweekends.com)

Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, 4850 W. Powell rd., Delaware County - Boo at the Zoo, 5 to 9 p.m.Fridays, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturdays and 10.a.m. to 8 p.m. Sundays, Oct..22-31; $12.99, or $7.99for children 2 to 9 and senior citizens, free for children younger than 2 and for members; parking:$5, or free for members (614-645-3550, www.columbuszoo.!org)

Dublin Dance Center and Gymnastics, Abbey Theater, Dublin Community Recreation Center, 5600 PostRd. - Halloween show, 7 and 9 p.m. Oct. 30, $10, or $6 for age 18 and younger (614-761-2882, www.dublin!dance.com)

Grange Insurance Audubon 8Center, Scioto Audubon Metro Park, 505 W. Whittier St. - Fall Is FunFestival: hikes, crafts, games, environ8mentally friendly decorating ideas; 9.a.m. to noonSaturday; $2, or $1 for ages 4 to 17, free for age 3 and younger, free with the donation of aHalloween costume (614-545-5481, www.grangeinsuranceauduboncenter. org)

Harvest Festival 2010, Doran's Farm Market, 5462 Babbitt rd., new Albany - 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.Oct. 9; free (614-775-6222, www.naarts.org)

 Haunted Hollow and Magical Mystery Maze, Olentangy Indian Caverns, Delaware County - 7:30to 11 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays beginning Saturday, 1779 Home rd.; haunted forest: $10; mysterymaze, $5; both: $13.50; (740-548-7917; www.ahaunted hollow.net)

Haunted Statehouse, Broad and High streets, Downtown - tours every half-hour from 7 to 9.p.m.Oct. 15-16 and 22-23; $8, or $4 for age 15 and younger (614-728-9234, www.!statehouseshop.com)

Kilbourne Fall Festival and Homecoming, Kilbourne United Methodist Church, 5591 Rt. 521 -parade, hog roast, petting zoo, games, hayrides, music, storytelling with Janet Hickman of OhioState University; 8 a.m. to 6.p.m. Saturday; free (www.!kilbourneumc.com)

Kings Island, 6300 Kings Island Dr., Mason - Halloween Haunt, with mazes, rides and shows,not recommended for children younger than 13; 7 p.m. to 1 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays (park opens atnoon Saturdays), through October; $21.99 Fridays, or $34.99 at the gate; $27.99 Saturdays, or$49.99 at the gate; Howl-O-Fest children's event, noon to 5:30 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays, throughOctober; $27.99, or $25.99 for children and senior citizens, or $49.99 at the gate, includesadmission to Halloween Haunt; discount tickets available online; (513-754-5700, www.visitkingsisland.com)

Mickey the Lion's Corn Maze, 2630 S. Limestone St., Springfield - 8 p.m. to midnightSaturdays and Sundays, through October; $5, with profits to benefit the ALS Association(937-206-4066, www.thelegendsof!horror.com)

Ohio Historical Center and Ohio Village, I-71 and E. 17th Avenue - all Hallows Eve,19th-century Halloween celebration; 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. Oct..16 and 23; $7 to $12 (614-297-2300,1-800-686-6124, www.ohio!history.org)

Old-Time Harvest Day, Century Village, Fryer Park, 3899 Orders rd., Grove City - 1 to 5 p.m.SundayOct. 3; free (614-877-4524, www.grovecityohio. gov)

Santa Maria, Battelle Riverfront Park, 25 Marconi Blvd., Downtown - Haunted Ship, 7 to10.p.m. Oct..28-30; $2.50 to $5 (614-645-8760, www.santamaria.org)

Worthington Libraries Ghost Tour, old Rectory, 50 W. new England Ave. - 7:30 and 9 p.m. Oct.22; $10 at the old Rectory and at Fritzy Jacobs, 635 High St.; suggested for age 13 and older(614-807-2627, www.!worthingtonlibraries.org)

Many farms and businesses in central Ohio grow pumpkins and host harvest-seasonactivities:

Circle S Farms, 9015 London-Groveport rd., west of Grove City - corn and sunflower mazes,hayrides, fun barn, bale cave, petting zoo, fodder lane; 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily through October;$8, or free for children younger than 2; $3.50 for a pumpkin (614-878-7980, www.circles farm.com)

Devine Farms, 672 National rd., Hebron - barrel-train rides, wagon rides, scarecrow-making,pumpkin painting, giant indoor slide; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturdays and noon to 6 p.m. Sundays,through Oct. 24; free; most activities $1 to $2; all-day, all-!activities stamp, $14, with adiscount for active military families (740-928-8320, www.devinefarms.com)

Freeman's Farm, 6146 Lewis Center rd., Galena - farm-animal petting area, scarecrow-making,campfire concessions, kettle-corn popping, apple-butter-making demonstrations some Saturdays,farmers 8market, hayride, gift barn; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays and noon to 5 p.m. Sundays,through Oct. 30; free; hayrides: $2 for age 16 and older, $1 for ages 3 to 15, free for age 2 andyounger; scarecrow kits: $20 (740-548-1149, www.freemansfarm.com)

Garden Gate Farm Market, 2405 S. Lexington-Springmill rd., Lexington (419-884-0226, www.lexington-oh.!com/gardengate): corn andstraw mazes, hayrides, pumpkin picking and decorating, corn crib, bounce house, scavenger hunts; 9a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays and noon to 4 p.m. Sundays, through October;free; activities: $1 to $2

Harvest Adventures, 1135 Locust Grove rd. N.E., Bremen (740-569-4997, www.harvestadventures.com): corn maze, haunted cornmaze, horse-drawn hayrides (Oct. 9 and 16 only), tractor-pulled hayrides, pony rides, farm animals;11 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekends; haunted maze, dusk to 11 p.m. Oct. 29 and 30; free; corn maze: $3;haunted maze: $5; hayrides: $2

Hidden Creek Farms, 581 S. Galena rd, Sunbury (740-815-9371, www.hiddencreekfarms.com): pumpkin picking,child-sized hay-bale maze, corn cannon, hayrides, wagon rides, farm animals, play barn, pumpkinslide; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekends through October, also Oct. 15; $5

Hoffman's Farm Market, 800 Hilliard-Rome rd. - hayrides, pumpkin picking, straw play area,petting zoo; 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily; hayrides: noon to 6 p.m. weekends through October, ridesavailable by appointment weekdays; free; hayrides: $5 (614-878-5161)

Jacquemin Farms, 7437 Hyland Croy rd., near Dublin - pumpkin picking; children's playland withstraw maze, grain box and inflatable toys; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays and 1 to6.p.m. Sundays; inflatable toys available after 3 p.m. weekdays; free; playland: $5 (614-873-5725, www.jacqueminfarms. com)

Kuhlwein's Farm Market, 1859 Walker rd., near Hilliard - hayrides, pumpkin picking, corn maze,straw maze, petting zoo; 10 a.m to 5 p.m. weekends; $8, including a pumpkin

Lehner Pumpkin Farms, 2920 Rt..203, Radnor - 8-acre corn maze, pumpkin picking, hayrides,inflatable farmhouse, petting zoo; large groups by appointment; 5 p.m. to dark on weekdays and 10a.m. to dark on weekends, through October; free; hayrides: free from noon to 5.p.m. Saturdays andSundays, otherwise $3 (740-595-3207 www.lehner!pumpkins.com)

The Maize at Little Darby Creek, 8657 Axe Handle rd., Milford Center - 9-acre corn maze, playarea, hayride, corn cannon, cow train, pumpkin picking, tube slide, roller slide, petting zoo,laser tag, family dodge ball, pedal carts, campfires, barnyard bouncer, corn ball; 5 to 10 p.m.Fridays, noon to 10 p.m. Saturdays and noon to 6 p.m. Sundays, through October; haunted maze: duskto 10.p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, Oct..8-30; base admission, which includes corn maze, play areaand cow train: $8, or $4 for age 60 and older, free for age 2 and younger; combo rate for baseadmission activities plus five corn cannon shots, hayride and a pie pumpkin: $10, or $6 for age 60and older, free for age 2 and younger; haunted maze, additional $4, with discount coupons availableonline (937-349-4781, www.mazeandberries.com)

McDonald's Greenhouse Corn Maze and Fall Farm Fun, 3220 Adamsville rd., Zanesville(740-452-4858, www.mcdonalds!greenhouse.com): corn maze, pettingzoo, pumpkin carving, hayrides, giant corn box, cow milking; 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturdays and 1 to 6p.m Sundays through October; $5, or free for age 2 and younger

Miller's Country Gardens, 2488 Rt. 37 W., Delaware - pre-picked pumpkins, pumpkin picking,petting zoo, hayrides; fall festival, noon to 5.p.m. Oct. 10, bluegrass music, craft exhibits,horse-drawn wagon rides, corn maze, straw tunnel; 9 a.m. to 7.p.m. Mondays through Saturdays andnoon to 5 p.m. Sundays, through October; free; fee for corn maze and wagon rides (740-363-5021,www. millerscountrygardens.com)

Oakland Nurseries, 1156 Oakland Park Ave. (614-268-3511); 4261 W. Dublin-Granville rd., Dublin(614-874-2400); and 25 Kilbourne rd., Delaware (740-548-6633, www.!oaklandnursery.com): artists, gardening experts,family games and activities, live music, demonstrations, workshops; haunted house at the Delawarestore only; website has complete schedule for each store; noon to 4 p.m. Oct. 9-10; free

Pigeon Roost Farm, 4413 National rd. S.W., Hebron - fun center, including play fort, tepeewith cornstalk maze, seesaws and hay-wagon slide; treehouse, circle swing, farm animals, pumpkinpicking; weekends: camels, sculpting exhibit, wagon rides; 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily through8October; free; fun center: $5 (740-928-4925, www.pigeonroostfarm.com)

Renick's Family Market, 14080 Rt. 23, Ashville (740-983-3096): baked goods, pumpkin picking,scarecrow building; live music, Oct. 9-10 and 23-24; 9 a.m. to at least 7 p.m. daily, throughOctober; free; fee charged for pumpkins

Schacht Farms, 5950 Shannon rd., Canal Winchester - pre-picked pumpkins, pumpkin picking,petting zoo; 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays and noon to 5 p.m. Sundays, throughOctober; free (614-833-1932, www.schachtfarmmarket. com)

Sharp Farms, 7129 old Logan rd., Sugar Grove (740-215-8384, www.sharpfarms.com): honey, pre-picked pumpkins, pumpkinpicking ; 9 a.m. to dusk daily; pumpkin picking weekends only; free

Smith Farms, 3285 Watkins rd. - fall harvest jamboree: corn maze, hayrides, butter churning,petting zoo, games, climbing wall, horseback rides; noon to 5 p.m. Saturday; oct. 2 onlyfree;climbing wall: $2; horseback rides: $3; parking: $5 (614-645-3156, www.columbusrecparks.com)

Wright Landscape Supply & Market place, 4333 Westfall rd. SW., Lancaster (740-653-3447, www.wrightlandscapesupply.com) corn maze,child-size straw-bale maze; 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.Sundays, through October; free; corn maze $5, or free for children younger than 2

Young's Jersey Dairy, 6880 Springfield-Xenia rd., Yellow Springs (937-325-0629, www.youngsdairy.com): pumpkin picking, corn maze, ride topumpkin patch, petting zoo, pumpkin launcher, cheese production tours; evenings, haunted wagon rideand storytellers; 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily; free; haunted wagon ride: $9, or $3 for age 4 andyounger (7:30 to 10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays); corn maze: $5, or free for age 4 and younger (noonto 6 p.m. weekends); pumpkin patch ride: $7 a pumpkin

TWIG branches out with day of fall frolics