The 33rd award winning festival, Pumpkinfest, is only 25 days away. Joanne Robbins and Chair of the organizing committee, Brad Scott, came to Saugeen Shores Council on Monday (Sept. 9) with highlights of this year’s event.
“This is not only our 33rd anniversary, it is also the 25 anniversary of the Cinderella Car Show,” said Scott, “and the third year that we have been in the downtown core.”
Pumpkinfest derived its name from the weigh-in of gigantic vegetables, including pumpkins, and is an official weigh-in site for determining champion pumpkins. Last year, the top pumpkin weighed in at 1,959 lbs. “We are hoping this year,” said Scott, “to break through to 2,000 lbs.”
Robbins added that the Festival opens with the traditional pumpkin seed-spitting contest among dignitaries and local celebrities. “We are hoping to bring the ‘Silver Seed’ championship back to Saugeen Shores,” she said, “after Al Barfoot, Mayor of Georgian Bluffs, and MPP Bill Walker, captured the title.”
“We also want to thank those behind the scenes who get little recognition,” added Robbins. “There is Carson’s Supply who provides the forklifts and drivers needed to lift the giant produce, the judges who volunteer their time, the many volunteers without whom this would never happen, Sunbelt Rentals that provides the fencing, Kinectrics and many others.”
The weekend begins Friday night, October 4th with fun for the adults at the Friday night “Pub-Kin Crawl” that incorporates shuttle buses and provides early arriving festival visitors with an opportunity for entertainment at the various licensed establishments throughout Port Elgin and Southampton.
The next day, Saturday, is filled with something for the entire family at the Pumpkinfest Port Elgin downtown ‘grounds’. From the Kiddie carnival to a visit by ‘Batman’, the car show for Dad, a craft show, the Jr. Firefighters Challenge, live entertainment, the marketplace and, of course, food and the giant vegetable tent.
Mayor Luke Charbonneau, who helps with the giant vegetable weigh-off, said that “My hope is to actually weigh the world record pumpkin.”
Pumpkinfest takes place October 5th and 6th in Port Elgin and, for more information, to pre-register for the Car Show or for a Family Pass, visit www.pumpkinfest.org .
