Photo courtesy of Clear Lake Farms Leo Haala of Hanska holds a pumpkin at Clear Lake Farms at Shirley’s Park and Country Retreat. The park several miles southwest of New Ulm, hosts the second annual Squash Cancer, pick your own event including many features, 3:30 to 8:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 1.

CLEAR LAKE — The public is invited to the second annual squash cancer benefit at Shirley’s Park and Country Retreat, Friday, Oct. 1.

Visitors can pick their own pumpkins, designer gourds, squash, and vegetables from 3:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the park, five miles south of New Ulm on the south side of Clear Lake, next to the Log Dog and Fox Hunters Park.

A portion of the squash sales will benefit local breast cancer survivors and their families through B the Light, a local non-profit organization.

Other food items available at the lakeside park and campground include hot apple cider, mini donuts and picnic style menu items from Sozial’s Big Red Food Truck.

Clear Lake Farms and a 1.5 acres of chemical-free vegetables supplied produce to the New Ulm Community Co-op, Hy-Vee Foods and to farm goers every weekend of the season with a pop-up market.

The Riverside Environmental Learning Center bison exhibit, pumpkin painting and more are featured.

The event’s grand finale of the evening is a lakeside, big-screen showing of “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown,” the 1966 American prime time, animated television special based on the comic strip “Peanuts” by Charles M. Schultz.

The program was nominated for a 1966 Emmy Award.