Schnepf Farms is throwing its biggest expansion yet at this year's Pumpkin & Chili Party, rolling out five brand-new rides just in time for the harvest festival's 85th year. The event opens Oct. 1 and runs throughout October, according to KTAR.com, mixing fresh thrill rides with returning attractions such as the corn maze, petting zoo and pig races.
The farm, located near Riggs and Rittenhouse roads in Queen Creek, is celebrating 85 years of its Pumpkin & Chili Party harvest festival with the new additions, according to KTAR News 92.3 FM. The five new rides include The Peach Pit, a drop tower; the Schnepf Giant Slide; the Barnyard Stampede roller coaster; Barnstormers, a classic 1950s-style paratrooper attraction; and the Coffee Cup Swirl, a classic teacup ride.
The farm’s anniversary and the festival’s are distinct: Queen Creek’s history says the Schnepf family settled in the area in 1941, while the 2026 event listing calls the Pumpkin & Chili Party its 30th annual celebration—not its 85th. The family’s farming roots stretch back decades, but the festival’s own numbering points to a much more recent start. Queen Creek’s account of the town’s founding families and Visit Mesa’s 2026 event listing provide the separate timelines.
New Rides Join Longtime Farm Favorites
Despite the expansion, the Pumpkin & Chili Party will retain the corn maze, petting zoo and Hillbilly Bob's pig races, per the same report. The event is open Wednesday through Sunday, giving visitors a multi-day window each week to hit the new attractions alongside the old standbys.
Food has gotten an upgrade too. The lineup includes chili, cinnamon rolls, succotash, barbecue, burgers and specialty desserts, with new additions like a taco bar, a potato bar and a caramel apple cider slushy rounding out the menu, the station notes.
Pedal Cars Return With a NASCAR Name
The Phoenix Raceway pedal car challenge is coming back to Schnepf Farms, with NASCAR driver Noah Gragson set to reintroduce the attraction on Sept. 30, as reported by KTAR.com. The crossover pairs the farm's family-friendly fall lineup with a bit of racing flair just before the main event kicks off.
What It Costs to Get In
General admission runs $28.95, according to the station's report. A season pass costs $99, an upgraded season pass costs $132 and an ultimate family ticket pass runs $239. Firefighters, police, military personnel and veterans pay a discounted $15 for general admission, while guests younger than 2 get in free.
The added rides also fall under Arizona’s amusement-ride safety rules. State law requires rides to receive an inspection at least once a year, operators to keep a written inspection certificate and a local-government permit, and owners to carry liability insurance. The statute sets minimum coverage of $1 million for bodily injury and $500,000 for property damage per occurrence, or $2 million per occurrence under a combined single limit. Arizona’s amusement-ride requirements apply statewide.
Mark and Carrie Schnepf said the celebration is about investing in the farm's future so families can continue making memories for generations, per a press release cited in the same coverage. With the Pumpkin & Chili Party marking 85 years and five new rides ahead, Schnepf Farms is betting that formula still works for another October in Queen Creek.
