Pumpkin patch relocated for 2020

Friends of the Little White House continues fall tradition

Simpsonville, S.C. — The popular pumpkin patch normally located off South Main Street has been temporarily relocated for 2020 to the parking lot of a local restaurant off North East Main Street.

Friends of the Little White House, a nonprofit Montessori school, is sponsoring The Golden Strip Pumpkin Patch hosted by Anita's Restaurant on Alice Avenue. Friends, which serves children with autism spectrum disorder and developmental delays, has rebranded the Holy Cross Pumpkin Patch after Holy Cross Episcopal Church opted not to sponsor the Patch in 2020 due to the global pandemic.

Located at 101 Alice Drive, The Golden Strip Pumpkin Patch is open Monday - Friday at 11 a.m. - 7:30 p.m., Saturday at 10:30 a.m. - 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. Lu Grant, a Friends board member and Patch coordinator, said the new location offers ample parking, beautifully decorated patch with multiple photo opportunities and "amazing" Mexican food.

"The Holy Cross Pumpkin Patch has been held in Simpsonville for over a decade while benefiting several local charities," Grant said. "This year, the church opted not to host the patch due to the ongoing effects of the pandemic. Friends of the Little White House, a Montessori Skill Building Center for those with autism and developmental delays, offered to sponsor the Patch so Simpsonville could continue this tradition."

The Patch needed a new location due to intermittent construction and parking issues off South Main Street. Restaurant owner Anita Baldwin volunteered her property for the patch.

On Monday - Thursday at 11 a.m. - 2 p.m., volunteers from An Independent Life, which services adults with disabilities, will run the patch while learning new social and job skills. 

"This patch has been such a blessing to so many, and we are honored to carry on the mission," Grant said.

Whether called the Holy Cross Pumpkin Patch or the Golden Strip Pumpkin Patch, Simpsonville continues to have its very own place to buy pumpkins and get into the fall spirit.

For more information, visit the Golden Strip Pumpkin Patch Facebook page or contact Lu Grant at ulul71@yahoo.com.