By Abby Brady

If you’ve visited the Zesiger Center in October, you might have spotted something unusual floating in our teaching pool on one special weekend — pumpkins! Hundreds of

them, drifting across the water as families and swimmers laughed and played.

Did you know that pumpkins can float? Thanks to their mostly hollow insides and air pockets that keep them afloat. And for the past six years, our Floating Pumpkin Patch has been one of our most beloved fall traditions.

A Tradition Six Years Strong

We hosted our first before COVID, and since bringing it back, participation has grown every year. Over time, we’ve tried a few variations — from combining it with swim lessons to hosting it as a standalone event — but no matter the setup, the excitement on participants’ faces always stays the same.

How It All Started

The Floating Pumpkin Patch was the brainchild of our Assistant Director of Aquatic Programs, Morgan Anderson-Gels who wanted to create a seasonal, family-friendly event that brought people together in a fun and unique way. Inspired by other aquatic centers’ fall events, we decided to put our own MIT spin on it — transforming our teaching pool into a floating field of pumpkins.. It was creative, festive, and quickly became a favorite among our community.

What It Takes to Make It Happen

Pulling off this event is no small task! Planning begins months in advance — from reserving pool time and prepping activities to organizing snacks and decorations. One of the biggest steps? Calling Trader Joe’s to order around 300 pumpkins, all of which end up floating in the pool, waiting for families to pick their perfect one.

A Staff Favorite

For our Assistant Aquatic Director Morgan, this event holds a special place in her heart. Halloween happens to be her favorite holiday, and she never gets tired of seeing the look of surprise and delight on people’s faces when they realize that, yes — pumpkins really do float!

Whether you join us for the photos, the pumpkins, or simply the smiles, the Floating Pumpkin Patch is a fall celebration unlike any other. We look forward to it every year, and if you missed it this time, be sure to keep an eye out for next year’s event — you won’t want to miss it!