Visit Bucks County surprises early morning commuters with pop-up pumpkin patch
By Samantha Bambino
The Times
It was any other Friday morning on Sept. 22 at the busy Secaucus train station. At 6 a.m., the sun barely risen, commuters bustled past each other with coffee and briefcases in hand, ready to get through the final day separating them from the weekend. For almost 4,000 of these early morning travelers, their routine was pleasantly disrupted as they got to celebrate the first day of fall in true Bucks County style, all thanks to Visit Bucks County.
In recent years, the official tourism promotion agency of Bucks County has been pulling out all the stops to make this quaint yet thriving area the country’s next great tourist spot. With an ever expanding Parx Casino, scenic views from Bristol’s new boat docks and entertainment-galore at local theaters and wineries, there’s certainly enough to keep visiting families busy for a few days. For Visit Bucks County, it’s all about letting them know what’s available just a car or train ride away.
In a strategic initiative to target New York and Northern New Jersey residents (and spread a little bit of fall cheer), several VBC representatives set up a pop-up pumpkin patch in the Secaucus train station. Each day during the morning rush, approximately 10,000 NJ Transit commuters pass through the station, so it seemed like the perfect opportunity to attract a new audience.
The pumpkin patch held 4,000 free miniature pumpkins provided by Shady Brook Farm, which was enough to attract even the most tired of commuters. Stickers were placed on the bottoms of 120, and those lucky enough to select one of these pumpkins instantly received tickets or passes to some of Bucks County’s most popular attractions. These included Parx Casino, Bristol Riverside Theatre, Bucks County Wine Trail, Michener Art Museum, Ghost Tours of New Hope, Bucks County Playhouse and Sesame Place.
Next to the pumpkin patch was a giant chalkboard on which commuters were encouraged to write why they need an escape. Afterward, they could post a picture of it to social media using the hashtag #BucksCountyEscape and be entered to win the grand prize — passes to Peddler’s Village, a two-night stay at the Golden Plough Inn, money for dinner or shopping and a gas gift card.
According to Alexa Johnson, VBC’s public relations manager who planned the event, the knowledge commuters had of Bucks County varied. While some assumed it was a vast farmland, others had heard of the larger areas like New Hope and Doylestown.
“We wanted them to realize how close Bucks County is for a weekend getaway,” Johnson said.
But no matter their level of familiarity with Bucks County, almost every commuter was grateful for the pumpkin and spontaneous chance to win free tickets to someplace new. Johnson reflected on how the experience put a smile on one woman’s face who was celebrating her 50th birthday, while another was already mentally mapping out a spot on her desk for her new pumpkin.
“They’re not expecting something so early in the morning on a Friday,” she said.
Though this was the first event of its kind, Visit Bucks County is already planning something similar for next year to possibly target the Washington, D.C., and/or Harrisburg areas. According to Johnson, fall is Bucks County’s best season, so it only makes sense to share it with as many people as possible.
To further promote all that the area has to offer, VBC recently launched its Well Seasoned magazine, a comprehensive guide of restaurants, bars and wineries to point tourists (and even curious residents) toward local spots that suit their palates.
“We’re targeting a lot of people with fun and informative things,” Johnson said. ••
To keep up with Visit Bucks County’s upcoming events, go to visitbuckscounty.com.
Samantha Bambino can be reached at sbambino@newspapermediagroup.com
