Tanaka Farms, located in Irvine, held its second pumpkin patch with Sanrio just last month. The first pumpkin patch was held in 2017 when Tanaka Farms and Sanrio first announced their collaboration. Since then, the farm has hosted numerous seasonal events and fun workshops for all ages. This collaboration may have been a bit unexpected as the two are located on completely different ends of the spectrum, but the partnership has ultimately brought different audiences together.

Sanrio was founded in 1960 by Shintaro Tsuji, and they are best known for the iconic character Hello Kitty! Other popular characters from the company include Keroppi, Badtz-Maru, My Melody, and Chococat. On the other hand, Tanaka Farms is a Japanese-American family-run farm that provides fruits and vegetables for the community. They also hold educational tours and events for the public.

The collaboration between the two was first announced in September 2017, and the first event they held together was the Hello Kitty & Friends-themed pumpkin patch. Some other events held after the first pumpkin patch included the Christmas Tree Farm and the Strawberry Tours. This year, Tanaka Farms held a second pumpkin patch with Sanrio characters as ambassadors! In addition to adorable character photo-ops, this event featured wagon rides, a petting zoo, and a corn maze. People were able to choose their own pumpkins to take home, all while in presence of Hello Kitty & Friends.

This unique partnership has given Sanrio fans many opportunities to participate in activities involving the Sanrio characters. Tanaka Farm’s educational workshops aim to teach the importance of agriculture, sustainability, and health. Some of these workshops included bento-making and acting as a farmer for a day! Mary K. Tran of Let’s Play OC! enjoyed her time there “because it’s one more way to enjoy vegetables and celebrate pumpkins.” Visitors are even given the opportunity to visit Tanaka Farms where they can interact with Sanrio characters.

The next major event at Tanaka Farms is the Holiday Santa Tour and Sanrio Village. On weekends, starting from November 23, guests will have the chance to take a wagon tour around the farm and taste some of the seasonal veggies grown there. The decor and Sanrio Village is exclusive to this event, and these unique photo opportunities will be gone once the holiday season is over. If you have not already, check out Tanaka Farms and their partnership with Sanrio while it lasts! It is a great place to visit as a Sanrio fan, or even just as a family.