Fruitville Grove — Local services in Sarasota

I meant to write this back in October... My family & I have went to Fruitville Grove several years for the annual pumpkin patch. This past year (2024) they had a HORRIBLE amount of yellow jackets everywhere!! They closed at 4pm and as we were walking out I GOT STUNG by one! Immediately my arm was red, burning & super swollen.

As we got by the entrance, there was a First Aid Tent w/Manatee County EMS there. They were packing up (again, because everyone was leaving it was closing at 4pm). I went up to them and asked them for ANYTHING to help relieve my pain- ointment or anything. They just smiled and said "oh no, we only have basic First Aid supplies..." AND THEY JUST WALKED AWAY!... Um, I would consider bee sting remedies & allergic reaction supplies to be part of "BASIC FIRST AID SUPPLIES!"

Thankfully, I had a first aid kit in my car and had some ointment that I was able to put on it. (again, BASIC FIRST AID SUPPLIES)! I thank the Lord that I didn't have a SERIOUS horrible allergic reaction... like shortness of breath, cardiac arrest or worse! This would be considered "patient neglect" and THEY WOULD BE LOOKING AT A LAWSUIT for both Fruitville Grove & Manatee County EMS!! If you go, just beware of this. I am also so grateful that it was me and none of my children...

This was the first time I'd been there since I was a little kid! We had a great time, although it was unfortunate that we didn't go during the weekend so that all the vendors were there, etc. It was still a lot of fun. The goats (especially the babies) are so adorable! It's almost worth going just to see them! Im going back even if just alone to be able to feed them (you can bottle feed the lil ones) and to see what other kind of things they do vendor wise on the weekends. They have a GREAT choice of pumpkins 🎃 too. Beautiful and healthy... so we thought. And they have the white "albino" ones too which are really cool. Prices are reasonable. This is definitely the "pumpkin patch" to go to, especially if you have kids! As well as a great farm to go to all year round.

Edit: the large orange carving pumpkin that we bought (that was NOT cheap), my brother who was visiting from NY and I carved it that day and it turned out great. BUT it lasted only about 4 days at best before it started to rot and was mush by the next day. This is VERY VERY upsetting as we put a lot of work into the carving it. We will NEVER buy pumpkins from there again. Ever. Everything there...

We were driving by and saw the festival . We did not have a lot of time so we didn't really stop at any of the booths . It was more of a quick visit for to check.it out . There were some baby qoats just born so that was exciting .

We decided to return the following weekend ..Columbus day weekend . We will never ever return again . The baby goats were sold , they were only a week old . The entire time there we could hear the babies calling for the momma and the momma goats calling for the babies .

There was a gentleman giving pony rides to kids , the Norse was drenched in sweat Everytime we walked by a bucket he tried to reach for it and the owner kicked the horse in the legs he only wanted a drink of water .

Everything in the tents that vendors were selling was covered in dust . I have reported them to the local authorities for poor treatment to animals . I truly hope they follow up and investigate this coming weekend .

Honestly this place does not even deserve...