Raprager Farms' Fall Pumpkin Festival Returns to Odessa With New On-Site Restaurant

Raprager Farms in Odessa kicked off its annual Fall Pumpkin Festival on September 18, opening the gates for a season that runs Fridays through Sundays into November at 16907 Boy Scout Rd. This year's run adds a new sit-down restaurant and two new dessert vendors to the mix of hayrides, animals and pumpkin displays that have made the farm a repeat "Best of Florida" winner.

Hours are 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Fridays, 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Saturdays, and 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Sundays. Tickets run around $19, with the farm noting that some attractions and hours can shift by date, so families are advised to check the listing for their specific day before heading out.

A New Kitchen on the Farm

The biggest change this year sits inside a new building on the property: Whizk & Brew, a restaurant led by chef Jessica Tomlinson, who trained at the Culinary Institute of America. The menu leans on chef-driven comfort food built for a full day outdoors, covering breakfast, lunch and dinner rather than just festival snacks.

Two more names have moved in nearby. Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory and Cold Stone Creamery are now part of "Farmville," the farm's shopping and vendor area, adding fudge, caramel apples and ice cream to the lineup of local makers and seasonal gifts.

What's Included

Festival admission covers a long list of farm staples: hayrides, a petting zoo, a bounce pillow, a corn pit, a hay chute slide, a passion-fruit maze, and a wooden play fort. Pumpkin painting and craft stations are set up for younger kids, and live entertainment runs on select dates throughout the season.

A few extras cost more. Axe throwing, a zip line, pony rides and gem mining are listed as premium add-ons that may need a separate ticket, so families budgeting for a day trip should plan for that if those are on the list.

October Nights and the Bog Monster

After 6 p.m., the festival shifts tone for "October Nights." Haunted paths and a "Bog Monster" hunt bring a Halloween edge to the evening hours, aimed at older kids and adults looking for more of a scare than a stroll through a pumpkin patch offers.

The farm has not published an end date beyond running weekends into November, and it says it plans to expand into a year-round schedule of farm experiences and events once fall wraps up. For now, the fastest-changing part of the season is likely to be added dates for October Nights and any updates to what's included with standard admission, so it's worth checking the farm's own event listing before locking in weekend plans.

For more on this and other things to do around the county, visit Pasco County Community Website, follow along on Facebook, or share your family's festival plans in our Community Forum. For more weekend ideas around the county, check out our events coverage and community stories.