Editors pick

Valas Pumpkin Patch: How a Farm Attraction Became a SimpleTix Super-User

  • Riley Manning
    by Riley Manning • September 6, 2022

Riley Manning has worked as a travel and entertainment writer for more than 10 years. Today, he writes about unique events and the technology that helps make them happen.

event ticketing

Situated outside of Omaha, Nebraska, Vala’s Pumpkin Patch and Apple Orchard is a 400-acre farm that has been in operation for 38 years. A agro-tourism powerhouse, Valas sells over 80,000 event tickets each season and hosts a myriad of ticketed special events, from apple picking, horse rides, and gem mining to the crowd favorite, the Pigtucky Derby Pig Races.

Valas also hosts and caters large group events like corporate retreats and family reunions, providing a robust menu of concessions and food packages.

Their ticketing needs are complex, but Vala’s used a host of SimpleTix features to drive revenue and deliver fantastic guest experiences.

Online Ticket Purchasing & Ticket Types

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Vala’s needed to offer several types of tickets, as well as season passes. SimpleTix helped enable this variety to ensure Vala’s achieve the most value from each customer.

  • General Admissions can be purchased as peak tickets (which can be used any day of the week), off-peak tickets(which can only be used Monday through Thursday), Friday-only tickets, Summer Season Tickets (which can only be used on Summer Festival weekends), and Halloween tickets.
  • Season Passes can be used during the entirety of the fall season

Season passes are a fantastic option, as attendees are required to upload a selfie to accompany their season pass, removing the opportunity for purchasers to loan their pass out to someone else. Both General Admissions and Season Tickets are available online and can be delivered as a text message at checkout, making the purchasing experience as easy as possible.

Season Pass and General Admission Upsells

Valas didn’t want the hassle of jumping between several different software providers for ticketing, merch sales, and concessions. SimpleTix rolled all of these functions into one streamlined platform that all flows into one account. This makes it easy to report attendee count, ticket sales, catering orders, and more. With SimpleTix data, Vala’s targeted ticket purchasers with small upsells at just the right time in the purchase process.

  • Adventure tickets – 10 apple shots, a paintball coupon for 30 shots, and $5.00 off a pumpkin coupon
  • Orchard Experience Coupon – this memorable upsell includes a 1/2 peck of apples, 1/2 gallon of sweet cider
  • Taste of Vala’s Food Coupon: Caramel Apple, Large Kettle Corn Dozen Apple Cider Doughnuts
  • Vala’s Souvenir Mug – All mugs purchased online are at the single mug purchase price of $14.99. Mugs purchased at the farm come with a discount on multiple mug purchases in the same purchase. Refills cost $1.99 for fountain drinks and $2.99 for specialty drinks (hot cocoa, coffee, cider slushie, cold cider, hot cider)

Campfire and Party Barn Experience Tickets and Upsells

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Group events are a huge revenue driver for Vala’s. SimpleTix worked with the farm to create an interactive map of the farm that shows the available camp sites and barns, along with their reservation prices. Once the campsite is selected, the purchaser is prompted with several upsells, such as smores kits, beverages, other catering selections, and merchandise. Square upsells are added to the initial reservation invoice, and once the customer checks out, everything is included in one transaction — the guest could enjoy all of Vala’s offering without ever reaching for their wallet, all because they could purchase everything in advance.

Vala’s operates so many attractions and serves so many guests that it would be impractical to go into each day with no idea of how many visitors to expect. With SimpleTix, Vala’s could predict the crowd in advance, allowing them to allocate their staff, concessions, and other resources efficiently and save money while delivering a stellar experience. Plus, SimpleTix charges zero extra fees for concessions and merch transactions.

Any organization can become a SimpleTix super-user and leverage its ticketing processes to increase sales, streamline operations, simplify reconciliation, and more. In fact, the vast majority of our features come from real user feedback. See how easy it is by setting up a free SimpleTix event page for your event or attraction. You won’t pay a penny until you sell a ticket.

SimpleTix has offered an affordable, premium event ticketing platform that outperforms Eventbrite and similar apps for over 12 years. Compared to the competition, SimpleTix offers better options at a better price point. To learn more, call us at +1 (855) 550-3670 or email us at support@simpletix.com.

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  • Aron Kansal
    by Aron Kansal • June 12, 2025

[vc_row][vc_column width="1/2" css=".vc_custom_1480416839073{padding-right: 20px !important;}"][vc_column_text]Pacesetter Claims Service is a trusted property claims service that offers coverage across the U.S. They provide daily insurance claim services, catastrophe services, water damage mitigation, and other insurance adjustment offerings. Pacesetter ultimately provides homeowners and renters with essential insurance services. When Pacesetter chose to launch their 2nd Claims Conference using SimpleTix, we were thrilled to handle the event registration process for them. SimpleTix offered Pacesetter custom features like surveys and auto-scheduling to ensure they would make the most of their property insurance event.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width="1/2"][vc_single_image image="26758"][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner][vcex_spacing][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner][vc_column_text] [caption id="attachment_26750" align="alignright" width="288"] Image: Hard Rock Hotel & Casino (Conference Location)[/caption]By integrating Pacesetter's event registration portal with a survey feature, Pacesetter can ask event attendees important questions. More specifically, Pacesetter can now request the workshop/break-out session schedules of attendees. This helps Pacesetter determine the specific tracks that people plan to attend at their event. It also makes it easier for Pacesetter to interact directly with the insurance industry professionals who attend their conference. Pacesetter's event attendees are also able to automatically schedule classes that are "grouped" together. For example, if a conference attendee chooses a "Part 1 class" to attend, that attendee would automatically be scheduled for the corresponding "Part 2" class as well. This auto-scheduling feature prevents people from signing up from too many "part 1" classes. It also prevents people from skipping the corresponding "part 2" classes when those classes are deemed necessary.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_single_image image="26755" title="Attendee Workshop Selection"][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]In other words, auto-scheduling makes it easy for conference-goers to receive the full experience of events. Not to mention, it also helps companies like Pacesetter attract many more attendees at their events! And best of all, the custom survey and auto-scheduling features that are available to Pacesetter are also available to companies and individuals across the U.S, Canada, Australia, U.K, New Zealand and elsewhere. SimpleTix is used all around the world, and is...

event ticketing
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  • Aron Kansal
    by Aron Kansal • April 24, 2025

Overview Religious organizations have unique event needs—from weekly services and fundraisers to High Holy Day events. SimpleTix offers a comprehensive, affordable event ticketing system that simplifies registration, integrates online donation options, and enhances communication with your congregation. This lets you focus on your mission while managing events efficiently. Onboarding Process Create Your Account & Connect Your Payment Processor: Sign up for SimpleTix and integrate with Square, Stripe, or Authorize.net. Create Your Event: Enter event details, select ticket types (General Admission, Member, Guest), and add donation options. Customize Your Event Page: Reflect your organization’s branding and mission using logos, images, and compelling narratives. Integrate Communication Tools: Connect Mailchimp to automate email updates and engage your congregation. Download the Organizer App: Use the Organizer app for efficient on-site check-in and sales. Run a Test Event: Validate the complete process before going live. FAQs Can free events be managed? Yes, free events incur only a nominal fee. How do I handle reserved seating for High Holy Days? Use the seating chart designer for accurate seat assignments. How are donations processed? Donations are integrated directly into the ticketing flow. What if an attendee forgets their ticket? Check in attendees manually using the Organizer app.

event ticketing
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Comedy Clubs

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    by Aron Kansal • April 24, 2025

Overview Comedy clubs thrive on energy and engagement. SimpleTix provides a ticketing solution that supports both general admission and reserved seating, along with mobile check-in and seamless integration with Square for secure payments. Our system helps you maximize ticket sales and create a hassle-free experience for your audience. Onboarding Process Create Your Account & Connect Square: Sign up for SimpleTix and integrate your Square account. Launch Your Event: Enter show details, choose ticket types (General Admission, Reserved, VIP), and set pricing. Customize Your Event Page: Add your club’s logo, images, performer bios, and special offers. Set Up Promo Codes & Upsells: Create exclusive promo codes and add upsell items like drink packages through Square. Enable Mobile Check-In: Download the Organizer app for efficient on-site ticket scanning. Promote Your Show: Utilize social sharing, QR codes, and email campaigns to drive ticket sales. Run a Test Event: Confirm that the entire process works seamlessly before going live. FAQs Can I offer both reserved and GA tickets? Yes, simply create separate ticket types. How are on-site sales processed? Through the Organizer app with a Square card reader. How do I set up promo codes? Use our platform to create unique codes for discounts. What is the refund process? Refunds are processed directly via SimpleTix.

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