LATHROP — It was 76 degrees Thursday in Lathrop – and it was snowing.

Ron and Susan Dell’Osso were doing what any other big kids would be doing if snow fell in the Northern San Joaquin Valley. They were having a spirited snow ball fight.

The show started falling shortly after 2 p.m. as the artificial ice machine imported from Japan started spewing out the white stuff for the first time. It is all part of the new attraction “Holidays on the Farm” debuting Nov. 21. It was the first snow generated by the machine. They intended to have the machine running all night so when the 1,000 people with special needs drop by Dell’Osso Farms today for the Sunrise Kiwanis Special Access Day conducted in conjunction with the annual Manteca Pumpkin Fair they will be greeted by a field of snow to play in.

The machine won’t be turned on again until two weeks before the opening of “Holidays on the Farms.” It will take that long to cover the 30-foot high hill with a 200 foot drop and a 100-foot run that will be used for snow tubing. It is just part of the Christmas attractions that will be open from Nov. 21 to Dec. 31. The cost will be $15 for 90 minutes of tubing. Plus there will be a 5,000-square-foot kid’s snow play area complete with falling snow that can be accessed for $5 all day.

The long-range forecast calls for snow on the farm from Nov. 21 to early March that will allow snow tubing until two weeks or so before spring.

Rudy Dell’Osso, who has been a Lathrop resident since 1937, recalls the last time snow stuck to the ground in Lathrop was on Christmas Eve was about 15 years ago.

He said they had packed the car the night before to prepare to go to the airport in Christmas morn for a trip to Hawaii.

While the snow hill is part of the new attractions for “Holidays on the Farm”, those venturing out to Dell’Osso Farms starting this Saturday at 10 a.m. for the 12th annual Pumpkin Maze that is open throughout the month of October will have plenty of new things to enjoy.

There is a quarter-scale train that runs on a mile-long track. The first engineers – who have gone out and decked themselves in the prerequisite overalls, hankerchiefs, and hats – are Bennie Gatto and Glenn Page.

A zip line – that was tested for the first time Thursday – also will be in operation as well massive air pillows that operate similar to a trampoline that are available to little and big kids alike.

There are the other attractions as well ranging from the ever popular pumpkin blasters to the haunted house and 30-acre corn maze.

There are also numerous smaller attractions.

Also scheduled to be open is the 3,000-square-foot general store where you can buy sweet potato pie or pumpkin pie to other goodies including jams and handicrafts.

Parking is free and there is no admission. Most attractions, though, do have admission charges.

“People can just come out and look around and enjoy themselves and not pay,” noted Susan Dell’Osso.

For more information visit www.pumpkinmaze.com