Photos by Monica Avila
Malibu Funny Farm, a family owned and managed pumpkin patch, opened Saturday, Oct. 1 on Pacific Coast Highway and allows the Malibu community to embrace the Halloween spirit.
This is the first year there is a pumpkin patch opening its doors to the Malibu community. Co-owner Laurie Anderson is enthusiastic about the new addition her family has made to the community they have been a part of for almost 50 years. Anderson wants to bring fun fall activities and pumpkins to Malibu. She also said she wants to help bring families and friends together to have fun.
“We have lived here a long long time, over 47 years, and there has never been a pumpkin patch, so we wanted the local community to be able and come out and pick a pumpkin,” she said. Anderson wants the Malibu community to “have pony rides and a wild animal show and petting zoo, and get their face painted and have some treats and be able to do it locally.”
Co-owner Chandra Laberge said she wants to see as many locals and visitors as possible enjoying the farm because they have created a family affair they are proud of.
“We just wanted to offer something to the community, and we knew that Malibu didn’t have a pumpkin patch, and we have this beautiful land that is sitting here baking,” she said. “So we decided what better thing to do than start some community activity?”
Malibu Funny Farm offers pony rides, face painting, balloon animals, a wild animal show, a pumpkin bouncy house, a corn hole game and a petting zoo. All the activities offered must be paid with tickets purchased at the front table. There are $1 and $5 tickets available, depending on which activity you want to participate in. The pumpkins are paid for separately, but the entrance to the farm is free.
Maddison Jade Halverson is the owner of the Farm Friendz petting zoo, which has a broad variety of animals such as cows, ponies, rabbits, pigs, sheep, donkeys, goats, chickens and ducks. Halverson said she is happy to be working locally, as she is a Malibu resident, and is excited to be working at Malibu Funny Farm with all the kids.
The patch has only been open since Oct.1, but the Malibu community seems to be embracing it.
April Cotsem has been a Malibu resident for the past 16 years and is very excited about the farm’s opening. Costem used to drive to Agoura Hills for a pumpkin patch because there wasn’t one closer to Malibu.
“I got some great pumpkins. I think they’ve got a great thing going on here,” she said. “I know the community is very excited.”
Malibu Funny Farm will be open every day of October from 10 a.m. until dark. It’s located at 28517 Pacific Coast Highway, 90265 Malibu, CA and offers free parking.
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