Aside from its autumn crops, away from its scary corn maze, and apart from its bountiful pumpkin patch, Biringer Farm’s Boo Barn has a new, permanent resident, who is ready to entertain and educate visitors of all ages.
Spookley the Square Pumpkin came to life in a 2002 children’s book, to which Biringer Farm has the rights, as well as the DVDs and other products that came along with him.
As kids and their caregivers will find out when a staff member reads from the book at hourly Saturday story times for the duration of pumpkin season, Spookley is a very shy, square-shaped pumpkin who knows he looks different from his patchmates. To make matters worse, Spookley spends his life being alternately teased and ignored because his patchmates don’t think he “fits in.”
By the story’s end, however, the other pumpkins discover they were wrong to have bullied him; that there is more to his character than meets the eye, and that despite all the insults, Spookley still came to their rescue.
Visitors who come for the story times also will see the “Spookley” DVD, which is animated in the same manner as “A Bug’s Life” and “Toy Story.”
Biringer’s staffers hope visitors of all ages, but particularly children, will come away with the understanding that it’s the same with people: Differences, superficial or otherwise, should be embraced, not used as reasons for bullying.
Staff members say the motivation for adding Spookley was to send a direct message. Several of Biringer’s attractions send indirect messages; the “tired horse” swings, for example, which are made from old rubber tires to demonstrate the importance of recycling. Spookley’s story and DVD, however, send a direct message that bullying is wrong.
The Spookley attraction is included with the cost of admission. Biringer Farm is at 4625 40th Place NE, Everett. For more information, call 425-259-0255.
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