Free Pumpkins at the Great Park Pumpkin Harvest and Food Drive

IRVINE, Calif., Oct. 3, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Come to the Great Park Pumpkin Harvest to see where pumpkins come from, grown in a pumpkin patch!  That's just one of many reasons why kids and families are invited to celebrate the fall season at the fourth annual Great Park Pumpkin Harvest and food drive, Saturday, October 22 from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.  This fall event is especially important in the fight against hunger.  Visitors are encouraged to bring canned and non-perishable food items to the Great Park Pumpkin Harvest and food drive to help Second Harvest Food Bank and Community Action Partnership prepare for their busy Thanksgiving season helping families in need.

"Second Harvest Food Bank feeds more than 240,000 hungry people in Orange County every month.  "Thanksgiving is an especially busy time for us and we depend on the thousands of local individual donors who bring canned food items to the Great Park Pumpkin Harvest," said Joe Schoeningh, Director, Second Harvest Food Bank, Orange County.  

Kids are encouraged to come dressed in their favorite costume, take a harvest walk in the new Palm Court, fly in the Great Park Balloon and take a ride on the Great Park Carousel.  Children 12 and under will receive a free pumpkin, while supplies last.  

While at the Great Park Pumpkin Harvest, vote for your favorite scarecrow created by organizations in support of the Second Harvest Food Bank and Great Park agricultural programs at the Scarecrows in the Park contest.

"The Pumpkin Harvest is an important annual family community event at the Orange County Great Park," said Beth Krom, Chair of the Orange County Great Park Corporation.  "It brings the community together to share food with those less fortunate, and it is a time honored tradition featuring pumpkin decorating, a petting zoo and treat stations throughout the day."

More than 6,000 visitors are expected to attend the Great Park Pumpkin Harvest and food drive.  Admission is free. Parking is $10.

The Orange County Great Park is located at Sand Canyon and Marine Way, and can easily be reached by the 5 or 405 freeways. For more information, visit http://www.ocgp.org/events or call (866) 829-3829.

About the Great Park

The Orange County Great Park, with its 1,347-acre master plan, is the focal point of the redevelopment of the publicly-owned portion of the 4,700-acre former Marine Corps Air Station, El Toro. The Great Park features an iconic tethered helium balloon that rises 400 feet in the air, providing an aerial view of Park development. Other features include the Carousel, Farm and Food Lab, Kids Rock Playground, Palm Court Arts Complex, North Lawn recreation area and historic Hangar 244. The South Lawn lighted soccer fields and Community Garden will be added in 2012. For more information, please go to www.ocgp.org.

SOURCE The Orange County Great Park