HAMMOND — It’s officially fall, and that means pumpkin patches are welcoming visitors looking to celebrate the season.

On this One Tank Trip, we’re heading to Mrs. Heather’s Pumpkin Patch in Hammond, where families can pick out a pumpkin and enjoy a day filled with fall activities.

The farm, located at 11215 Lee’s Lane, features a corn maze, jumping pillows, face painting, games, photo opportunities and more.

Owner Heather Hughes says the experience is designed as a fall festival, not just a Halloween attraction.

“We have all kinds of fun stuff for the kids. It’s just like a little fall festival,” Hughes said.

Visitors can explore the corn maze, which Hughes says is designed as one big circle, making it easier for children to find their way through.

There’s also a nature trail, educational signs and activities for a range of ages.

But bringing thousands of pumpkins to the patch takes some planning. Hughes says Louisiana’s heat and humidity make growing pumpkins locally a challenge, so the farm works with other farms to bring them in.

“We share crop with a few farms in different places and get ’em shipped in,” Hughes said.

The farm goes through an estimated 10 to 15 18-wheeler loads of pumpkins during the season.

And while the patch is now a fall destination, it began with a much smaller idea.

Hughes says the operation started in 1996 after she and others saw newspaper articles about growing pumpkins.

“So we planted some pumpkins not knowing what we were going to do with them,” she said.

Those first pumpkins eventually grew into a seasonal attraction where families can play, explore and choose a pumpkin of their own.

Mrs. Heather’s Pumpkin Patch is open now through Nov. 8.