pumpkins

The traffic cones have all but left Main Street as the Streetcar Extension opens after more than three years of construction, but now drivers will face a new obstacle: transit-only lanes. Plus: Raising giant pumpkins is a labor of love for some Midwest growers, and the pumpkins keep getting bigger and bigger.

Giant pumpkins can top the scales at more than 2,000 pounds – and caring for these behemoths is often a full-time job. But for some growers in the central U.S., the dream of raising a world record-setting pumpkin is a tantalizing prospect.

The pumpkin pie Americans enjoy each Thanksgiving often comes from pumpkins grown near Morton, Illinois. The region accounts for more than 95% of canned pumpkin in the U.S.

Pumpkin patches and other agritourism attractions have become an economic powerhouse over the past few years. But it can be a major undertaking for any farm.

The Kansas City region goes wild during the autumn months, with festivals and fall-themed events nearly every weekend. Find out where to pick pumpkins, sip cider, get confused in corn mazes and even celebrate spinach.

This year, well-known retailers including Home Depot, Michaels and Starbucks started promoting their fall or Halloween lines earlier than ever.

Are you serving pumpkin or sweet potato pie this Thanksgiving? A look at the history and cultural ties that influence why Americans may prefer one or the other.

Drought has affected several pumpkin-producing states, including Illinois, Indiana and Michigan. But rain arrived at the right time to produce a bumper crop in parts of the Midwest.

Autumn is perhaps the best time of year in the Midwest, and all around the Kansas City region, people are ready to celebrate. Whether you're pro-pumpkin or already in macabre mode (or both!), here are some must-do events throughout the season.

Apple cider? Check. Corn mazes? Too many to choose from. Don't miss these delightful autumn events and outings in and around Kansas City.

Here's your must-do list of autumn events in Kansas City, plus scenic drives, Dia de Los Muertos celebrations and ghost tours to fill your fall.

Meet a pack of alpacas, milk a cow and help bring in the harvest at local farms and vineyards around Kansas City.