Perhaps it appears foolish to say, however one of the notable modifications I’ve seen in Rome since I moved right here is how extensively Halloween is well known. In 2010, I bear in mind being the one individual dressed up as I made my solution to a celebration – and now the shops are already crammed with decorations and costumes. In fact, it stays primarily geared at kids so there are additionally plenty of actions that begin to pop up in October, together with a pumpkin patch.
We hopped within the automotive for a 30 minute drive out to Torre in Pietra Carandini – a farm in Fiumicino that has remodeled itself for the Halloween season right into a pumpkin patch close to Rome. The ranch was based as a dairy farm in 1926 however now hosts two main annual occasions to attach metropolis dwellers to agriculture: the tulip choosing in spring, and jack-o-laterns or “zucche di Barbabianca” each October.
The pumpkin patch expertise shouldn’t be actually about going to choose one out on the vine, however it’s nicely organized for younger Halloween lovers. When reserving you can be given a two hour vary when you may enter the primary space. Notice: kids underneath 100 cm are free, however that implies that they don’t get their very own pumpkin and must share with mother or dad.
The youngsters choose up tiny wheelbarrows and head out the sector that has been dotted with pumpkins. Each individual with a ticket can choose one pumpkin to embellish. You may really keep at Torre in Pietra Carandini all day – however the two hour window is when you’re allowed to make use of the tables and supplies to embellish your pumpkin. You may both paint or carve the zucche, and since my kids are 3 and 5 this 12 months, we opted to color them.
We left our pumpkins to dry within the solar and walked as much as the picnic space. I had packed a couple of issues however shortly determined to save lots of my do-it-yourself sandwich for later after I noticed the fire-grilled sausage panini on supply on the farm had been solely €5. We additionally grabbed a big piece of pizza rossa and a glass of wine for €2.50 every. No apple cider donuts in sight…
Along with the pumpkin choosing and adorning, there have been actions for the youngsters to get pleasure from as nicely: hay bales to climb, a easy ‘maze’ to navigate, sack races, and donkeys and goats to admire.
On our means out, we purchased some ornamental gourds in addition to pumpkins which might be higher for roasting and consuming than for decorative touches – actually rounding out the day of zucca.
The one factor that we weren’t tremendous nicely ready for was the climate: it was 30C/85F in October! I ought to have packed sunscreen as a result of shade was considerably restricted.
Benefit from the ottobrata romana!
