How To Roast Seeds After A Pumpkin Patch Visit In Arvada

ARVADA, CO — The holidays, including Halloween, will look very different this year thanks to the coronavirus. However, some quintessential fall activities such as visiting pumpkin patches near Arvada and carving jack-o’-lanterns will stay the same.

In 2020, more people are cooking at home and trying to maximize every penny spent. Here’s a simple way to keep that up: Don’t toss out those pumpkin seeds. Instead, turn them into a delicious snack.

First, pick up a pumpkin from the local pumpkin patch.

Arvada Community Garden U-Pick Pumpkin Patch

• Address: 9195 W 57th Ave., Arvada
• Season opening/closing dates: Sept. 26 until sold out
• Hours: 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Monday and Wednesday; 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. Saturday and Sunday
• Pricing: By donation; donations also accepted for gourds, Indian cor, squash, mini pumpkins and corn stalks
• Website: arvadagardeners.org

Chatfield Farms

• Address: 8500 W Deer Creek Canyon Rd., Littleton
• Season opening/closing dates: Oct. 1 to Oct. 31
• Attractions: corn maze, mini maze, many different gardens
• Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily
• Pricing: General admission tickets are $7 for adults; $5 for students and seniors. Children under age 12 get in free. Tickets will not be available on site and must be purchased here.
• Phone: 720-865-3500
• Website: botanicgardens.org/Chatfieldfarms

Maize in the City

• Address: 10451 McKay Rd., Thornton
• Season opening/closing dates: Sept. 26 to Oct. 31
• Attractions: Corn field maze, mini maze, playground, sand art, face painting, petting zoo, barrel train, corn launcher, pony rides
• Hours: 12 p.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday; Friday 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.; however mazes close at 6 p.m.
• Pricing: Pumpkin field admission is free; Corn maze is $12 for adults and $9 for children; the mini maze is $5 per child.
• Phone: 720-408-0006
• Website: maizeinthecity.com

Flat Acres Farm

• Address: 11321 Dransfeldt Rd., Parker
• Season opening/closing dates: Sept. 26 to Oct. 31
• Attractions: Corn Maze, hay bale maze, duck races, giant Jenga, bouncy house, hay rides, petting zoo, climbing wall
• Hours: From 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday through Sunday
• Pricing: Fall Festival tickets are $15; $5 for seniors; Age 2 and under: Free
• Phone: 303-805-1038
• Website: flatacresfarm.com

Anderson Farms

• Address: 6728 County Road 3-1/4, Erie
• Season opening/closing dates: Sept. 25 to Oct. 31
• Attractions: Pumpkin patch rides, 25-acre corn maze, pedal karts, farm animals, roller slides, rainbow maze, Fort A-Lota-Fun, combine slide
• Hours: Monday and Wednesday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Thursday 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Friday 10 a.m. to 11 p.m.; Saturday 9 a.m. to 11 p.m.; Sunday 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. (Note: the farm's pumpkin patch closes at dusk)
• Pricing: Fall Festival tickets are $12; Kids under 3 get in free.
• Phone: 303-828-5210
• Website: andersonfarms.com

Munson Farms

• Address: 7355 Valmont Road, Boulder
• Season opening/closing dates: Sept. 15 to Oct. 31
• Attractions: Hay rides, corn maze
• Hours: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily
• Pricing: Free admission
• Phone: 1-415-298-1500
• Website: Munsonfarms.com

Cottonwood Farms Pumpkin Patch

• Address: 10600 Isabelle Rd., Lafayette
• Season opening/closing dates: Open every day from Sept. 26 to Oct. 31
• Attractions: Corn and straw maze, wagon rides on weekends
• Hours: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily
• Pricing: $5 per person, kids under 5 and those over 65 get in free
• Phone: 720-890-4766
• Website: Cottonwoodfarms.com

7th Generation Farm

• Address: 1536 Courtesy Road, Louisville
• Season opening/closing dates: Oct. 1 to Oct. 31
• Attractions: Hay Bale Maze, Big Bale Hay Mountain, farm animals, pumpkin painting, Tractor Hay Rides
• Hours: Friday - 12 p.m. to 6 p.m.; Saturday - 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Closed Sunday through Thursday
• Pricing: Free admission
• Phone: 1-720-841-3836
• Website: 7thgenerationfarm.com

Rocky Mountain Pumpkin Patch

• Address: 9059 Ute Hwy/CO 66
• Season opening/closing dates: Oct. 3 to Oct. 31
• Attractions: Pony rides, Petting Zoo, Hay Maze, Animal Train Car Ride, Cornstalk Tunnel, Inflatable Obstacle Course, Dragon Roller Coaster, Tumble Bubbles, Paint a Pumpkin
• Hours: Saturdays and Sundays from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Pricing: Free admission; pay per activity
• Phone: 303-684-0087
• Website: www.rockymtnpumpkinranch.com.

The Bee Hugger

• Address: 12590 Ute Hwy, Longmont
• Season opening/closing dates: Oct. 5 to Oct. 31
• Attractions: Hayride, Haunted VW Bug Yard, sunflower field, animal feeding, miniature horse rides (approximately 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.)
• Hours: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily
• Pricing: Free admission; some activities have a fee.
• Phone: 303-330-8277
• Website: The Bee Hugger Facebook page only

After you gut the pumpkin for carving, keep the seeds in a bag until you are ready to roast them. Pumpkin seeds are loaded with potassium, packed with fiber and protein, and are the perfect snack to serve your little ghosts and goblins.

Here’s our favorite recipe for baking seeds:

Separate the seeds in a bowl as you clean each pumpkin. Heat the oven to 300 degrees. Rinse the seeds in cold water and strain. Pat seeds dry with a paper towel. In a bowl, toss the seeds in just enough olive oil to coat.

Spray an edged baking sheet with nonstick cooking spray and spread seeds in a single layer. Season seeds with kosher salt to taste. Bake for 30-40 minutes.

Let cool and enjoy. Seal leftovers in an airtight plastic container.

Ingredients:

• Pumpkin seeds
• Olive oil
• Sea salt

Make Your Jack-O’-Lanterns Last

When you carve that perfect pumpkin, you can plan on it lasting up to 10 days before it starts to show signs of aging. However, if you want to make it last longer, you can mix three teaspoons of bleach with 3 gallons of water and spray the solution throughout, according to Clorox.