Changes in store for Pumpkin Fest
NORWICH – The Norwich Business Improvement District offers the 10th annual Pumpkin Festival in downtown Norwich in just over a month, and several new competitions and events are being planned.
The goal for this year’s Pumpkin Festival on Oct. 25 is the same as it is every year, to see an increase in the number of carved pumpkins collected during the festival than there were last year. To that end, the community pumpkin carving tent will be open all week long.
“Our goal is to secure 10,000 pumpkins for carving,” said BID Executive Director Pegi LoPresti. “We invite all groups, organizations and businesses to come down and carve pumpkins to help us fill the scaffolding. Hopefully having it open all week, will allow more groups to participate by carving here.”
To increase participation, the Pumpkin Festival Committee has added some new contests this year with cash prizes to the winners. Contests this year will include a pumpkin carving contest, assisted by D&S Auto. Judges from D&S will judge the pumpkins and pick the top three in each category. The categories for each of three new contests are the same. They are scariest, most creative, funniest and most original.
Community Outreach Coordinator Deb Bowers explained that anyone wishing to participate in the contest will have to register at the log in station. Pumpkins in the competition will be placed in front of the main stage.
Also new this year, there will be a witch and warlock costume competition. Aided by judges from Frontier, the top costumes in each category will win cash prizes, and the winners will be asked to lead the rest of the participants at the front of the parade. The contest will be held at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 25.
This year’s Pumpkin Festival will also include a canine category. The Doggone Scary Costume Contest will be held at noon on Saturday at the main stage in West Park. The Chenango County SPCA will assist with the animal costume competition. Dogs will be judged in the four standard categories and the winners will receive cash prizes and be asked to walk in the parade behind the witch and warlock competition winners.
Other competitions this year will include a window decorating contest, for the greater Norwich area. An entry form must be filled out and submitted by Oct. 17 for anyone wishing to participate. Judging will be held from 5:30 to 7 p.m. on Oct. 20. The registration form will be available in the Pennysaver and online at www.norwichpumpkinfestival.com. “The windows should show the most festive pumpkins and should creatively relate to the 10th anniversary,” Bowers said.
The scarecrow competition will also return this year. Operated in conjunction with the Morrisville Student Government Association, this year’s scarecrow contest will offer cash prizes for the winners in each of the four categories. Scare crow drop off will be held from 4 to 9 p.m. on Friday in West Park. Judging will be held at noon on Saturday, and participants can pick their scare crows up before the conclusion of events on Saturday.
As in years past, a pumpkin bake off will also be held. Additional details on the bake-off will be released as they become available.
“This is a weekend of free, family fun made possible by the businesses and organizations who donate on an annual basis. Without them, we wouldn’t be able to have the festival,” said LoPresti.
The Pumpkin Festival is coordinated and run by a group of volunteers. “We have 10 to 12 people who do this whole thing,” Bowers said.
The committee is always looking for additional volunteers and pumpkin donations. Anyone who would like to get involved should contact Bowers at 336-4459.
The goal for this year’s Pumpkin Festival on Oct. 25 is the same as it is every year, to see an increase in the number of carved pumpkins collected during the festival than there were last year. To that end, the community pumpkin carving tent will be open all week long.
“Our goal is to secure 10,000 pumpkins for carving,” said BID Executive Director Pegi LoPresti. “We invite all groups, organizations and businesses to come down and carve pumpkins to help us fill the scaffolding. Hopefully having it open all week, will allow more groups to participate by carving here.”
To increase participation, the Pumpkin Festival Committee has added some new contests this year with cash prizes to the winners. Contests this year will include a pumpkin carving contest, assisted by D&S Auto. Judges from D&S will judge the pumpkins and pick the top three in each category. The categories for each of three new contests are the same. They are scariest, most creative, funniest and most original.
Community Outreach Coordinator Deb Bowers explained that anyone wishing to participate in the contest will have to register at the log in station. Pumpkins in the competition will be placed in front of the main stage.
Also new this year, there will be a witch and warlock costume competition. Aided by judges from Frontier, the top costumes in each category will win cash prizes, and the winners will be asked to lead the rest of the participants at the front of the parade. The contest will be held at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 25.
This year’s Pumpkin Festival will also include a canine category. The Doggone Scary Costume Contest will be held at noon on Saturday at the main stage in West Park. The Chenango County SPCA will assist with the animal costume competition. Dogs will be judged in the four standard categories and the winners will receive cash prizes and be asked to walk in the parade behind the witch and warlock competition winners.
Other competitions this year will include a window decorating contest, for the greater Norwich area. An entry form must be filled out and submitted by Oct. 17 for anyone wishing to participate. Judging will be held from 5:30 to 7 p.m. on Oct. 20. The registration form will be available in the Pennysaver and online at www.norwichpumpkinfestival.com. “The windows should show the most festive pumpkins and should creatively relate to the 10th anniversary,” Bowers said.
The scarecrow competition will also return this year. Operated in conjunction with the Morrisville Student Government Association, this year’s scarecrow contest will offer cash prizes for the winners in each of the four categories. Scare crow drop off will be held from 4 to 9 p.m. on Friday in West Park. Judging will be held at noon on Saturday, and participants can pick their scare crows up before the conclusion of events on Saturday.
As in years past, a pumpkin bake off will also be held. Additional details on the bake-off will be released as they become available.
“This is a weekend of free, family fun made possible by the businesses and organizations who donate on an annual basis. Without them, we wouldn’t be able to have the festival,” said LoPresti.
The Pumpkin Festival is coordinated and run by a group of volunteers. “We have 10 to 12 people who do this whole thing,” Bowers said.
The committee is always looking for additional volunteers and pumpkin donations. Anyone who would like to get involved should contact Bowers at 336-4459.
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