There was no doubt that the 40th anniversary celebration of Pumpkinfest saw one of the biggest attendances in its 40 year history, thanks in part to Mother Nature who brought a weekend of sunny skies and hot temperatures.
The weekend began Friday night, October 3rd with family night at the midway where kids and the young-at-heart lined up to go on the rides and play the many games that were there.
Saturday, October 4th, was the official opening of the weekend’s events as the Chantry Singers began with O’Canada and their rendition of ‘Watching the Pumpkins Grow’.
From the popular weigh-off of giant vegetables and pumpkins to the Cinderella car show that stretched for many blocks in the downtown core, crowds surged throughout the day trying to take it all in while enjoying the wide variety of foods offered by vendors, the live entertainment on stage, the games for the children and buskers who drew crowds with their street shows.
Huron-Bruce MPP and Minister of Rural Affairs, Lisa Thompson, presented a special congratulatory certificate to the Pumpkinfest committee. “It’s the commitment, the vision and the absolute dedication to the community that has made this event the special success that it is.”
The weigh-off took place in the Community (Missionary) Church where giant vegetables were measured and weighed, but it was the giant pumpkins, squash and gourds that the crowd came to see.
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Weekend emcees, Dave Middleton and radio personality Robin Woods, kept the weigh-off moving along with their knowledge of the growers, many of whom come each year hoping to be winners. 
Among them was 91-year-old Fred Hain and wife, Dorothy, who attend every year and who each brought their 1330.5 lb. and 1164.5 lb. pumpkins respectively.
With every pumpkin brought to weigh scale, a hush would fall over the crowd that waited to see the result. It was hoped that this year, a 2,000 lb. pumpkin would weigh in but it was not to be. It was however, within reach as Terry Weber of Kincardine brought his prize winning pumpkin that weighed 1,965 lbs. … a mere 35 lbs. short of the goal.
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