This cozy fall event takes the universally loved tradition of going to a pumpkin patch and gives it a unique twist. It takes place on the beach, and close enough to the ocean that you can feel the cold drops of water as the waves splash against the rocks. It’s the Carolina Beach Pier Pumpkin Patch, located right underneath the High Tide Lounge & Tiki Bar, on a small stretch of sand.
People from all over the state have been to visit the pumpkin patch, its primary attraction being the opportunities for good, beachy fall photos. It has generated some interest online for the aesthetically pleasing scenery of classic autumn colors against the blue of the Atlantic.
Creator Katherine “Kat” Kloss introduced this “first and only pumpkin patch on the beach” in October of 2022. It was declared an annual event almost immediately, on the 12th. You can attend this event every day of the week in October from 11:00 a.m. till 8:00 p.m. They have live music every Friday, though there is no set calendar for the event.
The idea for the patch came when Kat and her husband Chris Garcia purchased the Carolina Beach Pier in April of 2022, just a year after they relocated to Carolina Beach. Despite tourism being most popular in the summer, they saw an “opportunity to extend the sense of community into the fall.” Kat stated that “the idea itself came about very organically,” and that the couple was just looking at their stretch of beach one day during the fall and it clicked for them immediately.
“Within just a few days, I was on the phone with local farms sourcing pumpkins, and before we knew it, the first-ever beach pumpkin patch was set up,” she said. Kat believes that the “uniqueness of the setting made it instantly popular, and it quickly became a tradition for families and friends.”
When asked what her favorite part about the patch was, she said she loved seeing all the photos afterwards on social media, with its “unique backdrop.” She also enjoys witnessing newborns’ first pumpkin patch experiences, and kids picking out their perfect pumpkins. “The look of awe on people’s faces when they realize it’s a pumpkin patch by the ocean never gets old — that’s what makes it all worth it.”
She hopes to keep the tradition alive for as long as the Carolina Beach community will allow it, hopefully for years to come. She teases that she is planning an even bigger experience for next year’s fall season.
Their last day of operations this year is Oct. 30, and they plan to return in 2026.
