More than 3,000 pumpkins are piling up outside First Baptist Church of Horizon City this month, part of a free, all-day market and pumpkin patch built to keep pizza flowing to student-led Bible clubs at area high schools. Organizers are unloading 1,235 large pumpkins alongside princess pumpkins and regular-sized ones, with the whole event running from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and no entrance fee required.
The gathering is the 3rd Annual Tropicana Homes Town Market Extravaganza and Pumpkin Patch, according to KFOX14/CBS4, and Tropicana Homes is helping bring a community pumpkin patch and market to Horizon City. Event coordinator Debra Armes-Ferrell has helped organize the fall tradition, which this year includes walking Frito pies, pulled pork sandwiches, and barbecue brisket sandwiches alongside live music, games, and a nine-hole mini putt-putt course, the station reports. Kids can bounce in a jumping balloon while families browse vendor booths set up across the church grounds.
Where the Money Actually Goes
The proceeds aren't just covering a one-day party. The market raises money specifically for Fellowship of Christian Athletes huddles, which KFOX14/CBS4 describes as regular small-group gatherings of coaches or athletes focused on Bible study, prayer, and faith growth. FCA sponsors these high school huddles, which give students a chance to meet during lunch periods, and event organizers buy pizzas for students during those gatherings. The fundraising happens throughout the year and supports the huddle program's continuation, not just a single semester.
Fellowship of Christian Athletes huddles receive support from fundraisers like this one, which helps organizers buy pizza for students. The huddles operate under the federal Equal Access Act of 1984, a law that guarantees religious student clubs equal access to school facilities during non-instructional time, so long as the school also allows non-curricular secular clubs, per a Minnesota FCA student rights document. That statute requires meetings to be student-initiated and voluntary, with no direct sponsorship from school staff.
The legal boundaries around these clubs drew fresh national attention in August when the national Fellowship of Christian Athletes filed a federal lawsuit against a New Jersey school district over policies restricting outside adult volunteers and mentors from attending student-led lunch huddles, according to WORLD. The case centers on how far the Equal Access Act extends to adult mentors at campus gatherings, a question with real stakes for FCA chapters nationwide that lean on volunteer and church support to keep their programs running.
Supporting Local High School Huddles
Local FCA student programs meet during lunch periods at area high schools. The fundraiser supports huddles for local high school students rather than a single named campus community.
The fundraiser focuses on high school students, with proceeds supporting their FCA huddles.
A Major Local Builder Behind the Banner
Tropicana Homes, named in the event title, is El Paso's largest residential homebuilder; it is led by three generations of the Bowling family, which has built over 10,000 homes in El Paso, according to Tropicana Companies. The builder also highlights community involvement and affordable homeownership, lending its name to a market that otherwise runs on church volunteers and local vendor tables.
First Baptist Church of Horizon City, located at 17018 Darrington Road, is hosting the market and pumpkin patch.
Pumpkins Stick Around All Month
The patch itself remains open throughout October and offers activities for families and school groups beyond the market's single Saturday event, KFOX14/CBS4 reports. The patch also features vendors, a Christmas Store, and pet adoptions.
Organizers are also planning a dog costume contest for October 24, giving dogs a chance to show off costumes and tricks, with ribbons awarded to participants and one grand national champion crowned at the end. The community will close out the month with a trunk-or-treat on Halloween night at the church, where children can collect candy from decorated vehicles. Those interested in vendor participation, the dog costume contest, or other details can contact First Baptist Church of Horizon City directly.
