Weather cooperates at center’s fall festival

Clouds, rain set tone for Environmental Nature Center’s Pumpkin Patch fundraising event.The Environmental Nature Center invited guests to celebrate the changing of seasons at its 25th annual Fall Faire and Pumpkin Patch on Sunday.

Give an assist to the weather for setting the mood.

Overcast skies and a steady drizzle persisted through the late morning and early afternoon, dampening the sea of pumpkins but not stopping visitors from collecting their favorites in preparation for Halloween.

Brothers Luke and Will O’Neil -- ages 1 and 3 -- staged an impromptu World Strongest Toddler competition, lifting massive pumpkins over their heads and diving face-first into rows of orange vegetables.

“They roll them, they pick them up, they’re having a great time,” said Newport Beach resident Rory O’Neil, the boys’ mother. “They have brought over about four pumpkins and said, ‘This is the perfect one, Mom.’”

About 3,000 visitors were expected to attend the Environmental Nature Center’s largest and most profitable one-day fundraising event of the year.

Upwards of $30,000 was raised toward the center’s educational programming last year, said Executive Director Bo Glover. During the year, the center welcomes thousands of school-aged children for tours and environmental lessons. Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts often stop off at the Newport Beach center to work on projects for merit badges.