Festival activities, a corn maze, a haunted house and trail were all featured at the last Halloween Harvest Festival at the Pierce Farm Center in 2014. Last year we did not have a Halloween event, which left the surrounding neighbors without the family activities it had for over a decade.
According to an article in the Daily News from 2014, the Farm Center had drawn thousands to its year-round produce stand, pioneer village and annual Halloween Harvest and Christmas festivals. It was ordered to shut down the day after Christmas and to vacate the campus by April 15, 2015.
If the Halloween Harvest Festival comes back to make an appearance, thousands of children and adults will have a fun and spooky place to go to. It could also bring money to both the farm and the school.
The article also mentioned that the school could not afford to continue having the festival every year. If ticket, food, ride and attraction prices were lowered, more people may be inclined to come and spend money.
More money could be earned by the festival if souvenirs were sold. If campus clubs, departments and organizations volunteered their time to earn money for their clubs, it could save money over hiring outside people to run all of the stands, events and attractions.
Using biodegradable food containers that can be recycled, allow for another way to bring money or reuse a product. People of the community and surrounding areas looked forward to the family fun that was provided at the Halloween Harvest Festival and other events held through the Farm Center.
The Harvest Festival was one of the only events in the San Fernando valley that catered to families rather than couples, teenagers or people that wanted to be scared rather than just entertained.
Parents with small children, along with some teenagers and other people may not want to go to theme parks or local haunted houses. Theme park Halloween events are not designed for youth, or the faint of heart.
According to that same article in the Daily News, officials of the Farm Center and the Foundation for Pierce College, former partners in the “agri-tainment” venture, said the center never cost the college a dime. They said it had contributed $2.1 million to the school.
If the agricultural entertainment brought money to the school without the campus having to spend any, then the event should come back and provide the community with fun and safe entertainment.
