Good morning, Queen Creek.
Schnepf Farms adds five attractions for its 85th year
Schnepf Farms has added five rides and attractions and a food-sampling passport for October’s Pumpkin & Chili Party, giving Queen Creek families new options at the Rittenhouse farm.
Key facts
- 🎃 When: Wednesday through Sunday in October, including October 7 through 11 this week.
- 🎢 New attractions: The Peach Pit, Schnepf Giant Slide, Barnyard Stampede, Barnstormers, and Farmers Daughter Coffee Cup Twirl.
- 📏 Slide height requirement: Riders must be at least 42 inches tall for the 100-foot Schnepf Giant Slide.
- 🍴 Food passport: Samples from five participating food and drink locations. Look for the pumpkin logo at the stands.
- 🎟️ Budget separately: Food, pumpkins, and the train ride cost extra beyond general admission.
The Schnepf family started farming here in 1941, decades before Queen Creek incorporated. This is the farm’s 85th year, with another generation adding to the October tradition. AZFamily’s report explains the additions and admission extras.
Next up: this week’s Wednesday-through-Sunday run. Check the event listing for visit details.
The week
Queen Creek Library has activities for several age groups this week. These listings flag a ticket requirement; check each event page for entry details.
- 🎨 Artful Adventures, Monday. Crafts for ages 5 to 12 on October 5 at 3:30 PM. Event details.
- 📚 BabyTime, Tuesday. Storytime for infants through 20 months on October 6 at 9:30 AM. Event details.
- 🧩 The Council, Tuesday. Crafts, discussion, and social time for teens ages 13 to 17, October 6 at 3:30 PM. Event details.
Around Queen Creek
🎶 Brian Starck plays the Olive Mill on Sunday. Live music is listed for October 11 at noon at Queen Creek Olive Mill, 25062 S Meridian Road. The Rea family’s grove has been part of Queen Creek since 2005. Event details.
🌮 A free evening market at Casteel. Flavor and Flair Market’s October 17 listing runs from 5 to 9 PM at Casteel High School, with local vendors, food trucks, and a DJ. Admission and parking are free. Market details.
From the schools
🏫 QCHS returns October 12. Queen Creek High School’s calendar lists next Monday as the return-to-school date. School calendar.
💡 $1,500 grants are open to teachers. Queen Creek’s K-12 teachers can apply for the new SRP Energizing Education Grant through November 30. The program, administered with the Arizona Educational Foundation, will award $75,000 statewide in its first year. Application details.
What neighbors are talking about
Some group links may require Facebook membership.
🏊 Aquatic-center membership and mailing addresses. Residents in local Facebook groups are asking how membership eligibility works near the Queen Creek and San Tan Valley boundary, particularly for households with Queen Creek mailing addresses. The discussion does not establish the eligibility rules. See the discussion in Life in Queen Creek on Facebook.