Bob and Joann Lombardi.

“This is our opportunity just to say hello to the community and (we all) like to celebrate Halloween,” said Fred Gray, senior executive pastor at Real Life Church. “Today is particularly special because with Lombardi Ranch not being able to open their doors so to speak because of the drought, we asked Lombardi Ranch if we could bring them here and celebrate what they’ve done for the community.”

Lombardi Ranch has been have been providing family fun for all ages for over 30 years. Due to the severe drought conditions that California is facing, Lombardi Ranch is unable to open this year and a scholarship fund has been created in their name.

“(Bob and Joann Lombardi) were so humbled and so blown away that the community would miss them as much as we’re conveying that they would,” said Gray. “It was just a beautiful thing to have them say, ‘if you feel like it would be something the community would like, we’re all about the community.’”

Several items from Lombardi Ranch were on display at Saturday’s event as well.

“A lot of people remember (the items) from their childhood or they remember from pictures of their kids they took 15 years ago,” said Gray.

Lombardi Ranch has been selling pumpkins since 1968, according to their website.

“I would just like to say thank you to the entire community,” said Joann Lombardi. “We’ve been here for 50 years… You guys helped raise us, you helped us raise our children and now you’ve helped us in our heart with all the love and generosity you’ve given to us.”

Recognitions were also given to Bob and Joann Lombardi by Steve Knight, Mayor Marsha McLean, Supervisor Michael Antonovich, Senator Sharon Runner and Assemblyman Scott Wilk.

Knight presented the Lombardi family with a Certificate of Recognition from the United States House of Representatives.

Congressman Steve Knight presenting Bob and Joann Lombardi with a Certificate of Recognition from the United States House of Representatives.

“There truly are people in every community that make a community better,” Knight said, “and that’s what you have from the Lombardi’s.”

McLean said thank you and presented the Lombardi family with a certificate on behalf of the Santa Clarita City Council.

“I am so sad that the drought has messed with (Lombardi Ranch) because not only did we take our children there, but we’ve taken our grandchildren there year after year,” McLean said.

Rosalind Wayman, senior deputy for Antonovich, presented the Lombardi family a scroll on behalf of Antonovich.

Santa Clarita Mayor Marsha McLean presenting Bob and Joann Lombardi with a certificate on behalf of the Santa Clarita City Council.

“What I miss the most about Lombardi Ranch are the tomatoes and the corn and the winter and summer squash and all the vegetables you grew, too,” said Wayman. “Thank you for everything you’ve done for Santa Clarita.”

The Lombardi family was also presented certificates on behalf of Runner and from the California Legislature on behalf of Wilk.

There were also many attractions at Saturday’s event, including the KHTS antique fire truck, live music, a petting zoo, a corn maze, a pumpkin patch and a “trunk-or-treat” area for children to get candy.

There were approximately 15,000 attendees at the Halloween event, Gray said.

“The first year we did something I think we had 5,000 people come and we were blown away and we were all inside,” said Gray. “Now we’ve opened the outside up, not to get bigger so much, but just to offer more things for the families.”