Sator Sanchez and Lynne Thigpen Elementary Schools in Joliet hosted a private pumpkin patch event for students in their special education programs this Halloween.

More than 150 students in the Sanchez Adaptive, Behavior, Communication program and the Thigpen Living in a Functional Environment program took part in the event, according to a news release from Joliet Public Schools District 86.

Each classroom got to visit the outdoor pop-up pumpkin patches at the schools Oct. 23. Family members were invited to join the students while they selected a pumpkin to decorate and took photos.

Konow’s Corn Maze in Homer Glen provided more than 200 pumpkins for the event as well as other decorations and entertainment for the students, including gourds, corn stalks, hay bales and a corn kernel pit.

Several other local businesses and individuals also contributed to the event, including Gatica Creationz of Romeoville, Tractor Supply Co. in Channahon, the family of Sator Sanchez, and District 86 special education teacherJacelyn Desmarais and student services coordinator Megan Warren.