NORWICH – From pumpkin carving to pumpkin pie, the City of Norwich comes alive with all gourd things this weekend as organizers kick off the 17th annual Pumpkin Festival.
Each year, Pumpkin Fest attracts thousands for what’s perhaps the largest family-friendly festival in Norwich. The event has become a landmark in the city, transforming the East and West parks and the better part of the downtown commercial district into a spectacle of autumn bliss.
Started in 1999 in hopes of setting a record for most carved pumpkins in one location, the Pumpkin Festival has since shifted to being less about record setting and more about creating a vibrant community atmosphere.
While the festival has certainly seen its share of changes in recent years – namely occurring at an earlier date in hopes of attracting larger crowds and better weather – it’s back to its late October roots this year.
“The biggest thing about the festival this year is that we decided to move it back to the original date. We received a lot of feedback from people who wanted to see it return closer to Halloween,” said festival coordinator Tyler Oliver. “I think people are excited about that.”
Oliver also noted that by moving the festival to October, it once again coincides with the Norwich Family YMCA Halloween parade – another downtown tradition that’s been around for decades.
“This is the first time if a few years that both community events are on the same date. We're definitely excited about that opportunity,” said YMCA Executive Director Jamey Mullen. “We feel that both events cater to families and the community at large, and they feed off each other. Folks can come to watch the parade and while they’re there in the parks, they can stick around for all the events of the Pumpkin Festival and make a day of it.”
The Halloween parade marches down North Broad Street beginning at 11 a.m. Saturday.
Other festivities, however, get underway on Friday, starting with the annual Harvest Dinner at St. Bart’s Parish Center at 4:30 p.m. and the giant pumpkin contest weigh-in in East Park from 5:30-7 p.m.
At 7 p.m., 10 local restaurants will go head to head in a chili cook-off, one of the newest features of this year’s festival. Winner walks away with bragging rights.
Other entertainment will continue throughout Friday evening.
Saturday gets going bright and early with the scarecrow and pumpkin bake-off contest drop off from 9-11 a.m. (judging will be at noon) and the Halloween parade at 11 a.m. Rockstar DJ will provide entertainment in both parks throughout the day.
From noon on, there will be activities for all to enjoy, said Oliver. Activities like horse and wagon rides, balloon twisting and face painting, shows and demonstrations, a pet costume contest, live entertainment from local musicians and dance groups, and – naturally – the “all things pumpkin” bake sale.
Saturday closes out with a fireworks display in East Park around 9 p.m.
A complete list of events and times is available on the official Norwich Pumpkin Festival website, www.norwichpumpkinfestival.com.
The best part, according to Oliver? All events are free.
“This is a free family event in downtown Norwich. There aren't many different events like that where everything is free,” Oliver said. “That really is the biggest thing that we have been able to continue for the whole 17 years of the festival. It's the only large event of its kind in the fall season here in Norwich, and I feel it's important to continue it as a tradition.”