OKEECHOBEE — The pumpkin patch has returned at the First United Methodist Church, 200 N.W. Second Street with pumpkins in a variety of sizes and colors.

The pumpkin patch is open 24 hours a day and operates on the honor system. After picking a pumpkin, leave the payment in the mail drop. Prices vary according to the size of the pumpkin.

On Oct. 12, area school children visited the church for a special fall program. The fun started with an interactive story about “The Little Old Lady Who’s Not Afrad of Anyhing!” with Nancy Fletcher narrating the tale and playing the part of the brave lady who is not frightened, even when a giant jack-o-lantern shouts “BOO!”

Next, Ed Fletcher showed the children how to carve a pumpkin and light it with a candle. He warned them that only adults are allowed to use sharp knives.

The kids got to make faces on their own little pumpkins by using stickers. They also enjoyed coloring a picture of a scarecrow, and a treat of cookies and pumpkin juice.

Then it was time to visit the pumpkin patch. Mrs. Fletcher told the kids that Jack (the jack-o-lantern) was sad because he had been separated from his brothers when the truckload of pumpkins were unloaded and placed in the pumpkin patch. The kids were tasked with finding jack’s missing brothers and reunited the pumpkin family. They could tell which pumpkins were related to Jack, because these were the only pumpkins with painted faces.