NEW HAMPTON—Soons Orchards held its annual Columbus Day celebration. The festivities featured outdoor seating areas offering grilled foods, baked goods, pie eating contests, live music by Bill Davis, pumpkins, apples, and hay rides leading out to pumpkin picking patches. Contestants dove into freshly baked pies with hands and faces at the pie eating contest in the afternoon. The top three winners received awards for months of free pies or “Eat Pie” T-shirts, all courtesy of Scotty’s Pies.
Soons Orchards started as Orchard Hill Farm 106 years ago. Families came out to Soons Orchards to celebrate Columbus Day, the fall season, and over 100 years in business.

Music on the lawn at Soons Orchards in New Hampton on Oct. 10, 2016. Colin Fredericson

A wagon full of pumkins at Soons Orchards in New Hampton on Oct. 10, 2016. Colin Fredericson

Pumpkins at Soons Orchards in New Hampton on Oct. 10, 2016. Colin Fredericson

A tractor at Soons Orchards in New Hampton on Oct. 10, 2016. Colin Fredericson

Pumpkins in a field at Soons Orchards in New Hampton on Oct. 10, 2016. Colin Fredericson

Pumpkins at Soons Orchards in New Hampton on Oct. 10, 2016. Colin Fredericson

Ava Reich, 7, winning the ages 3 to 9 pie-eating contest at Soons Orchards in New Hampton on Oct. 10, 2016. Colin Fredericson

A boy sitting with pumpkins at Soons Orchards in New Hampton on Oct. 10, 2016. Colin Fredericson

Pumpkin and squash varieties in the farm market at Soons Orchards in New Hampton on Oct. 10, 2016. Colin Fredericson

Pumpkins at Soons Orchards in New Hampton on Oct. 10, 2016. Colin Fredericson

Pumpkins at Soons Orchards in New Hampton on Oct. 10, 2016. Colin Fredericson

Pumpkins in a field at Soons Orchards in New Hampton on Oct. 10, 2016. Colin Fredericson
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