SOMERSWORTH—
Once again, loads and loads of activities - all family-friendly and pumpkin-themed - will be front and center during the city’s 9th Annual Pumpkin Festival, set to take place on Saturday, Oct. 8.
“Everything’s pumpkin, pumpkin and more pumpkin,” Festival Co-Director Darryl Cauchon said. “Loads of fun for the whole family.”
The Oct. 8 event will feature tents offering pumpkin carving, pumpkin painting, pumpkin putt-putt golf, pumpkin smashing, pumpkin catapult, pumpkin basketball shooting and pumpkin pie eating contests. The festival will conclude with a short Pumpkin Parade down Main Street at 3:30 p.m. with kids encouraged to take part.
Always trying to keep things fresh, the festival will introduce a giant slingshot this year in which kids can fire small pumpkins into orbit.
The primary objective of the festival, sponsored by the Somersworth Festival Association, is to offer areas that encourage participation of parents and children of all ages.
“We really seek to have parents and their kids do things together, rather than the adults standing in the background watching their kids have all the fun,” said Cauchon. “In this light, families can carve a pumpkin together, make a scarecrow together, take a hay ride together, etch leaves together, get a meal from our food court and eat together, enjoy the live music, get a family photo taken to remember the day.”
The event will be held rain or shine. Bracelets sell for $12 per child (adults are free), which allows them access to all activities except the food court. All supplies are provided for each area, including pumpkins to paint, smash, catapult, slingshot or carve. Everything necessary to create a scarecrow, including hay, shirt, pants and face kit, are also available.
The festival runs from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in front of Somersworth Plaza on Main Street, just down the street from General Electric.
Deborah Longo, the library director, will host a continuous “Halloween Pumpkin Storytime” under a tent located in the heart of the plaza. There will also be a family and child photo area managed by local photographer John Huff. Festival-goers can pose behind plywood decorated like scarecrows or simply pose in a more traditional backdrop of hay bales and pumpkins.
“We really want to have a festival that appeals to kids of all ages and not just children 8 years and younger. Older kids will like pulling the trigger to the catapult, building a scarecrow, bowling with a pumpkin for a ball. There’s just so much for that age-group, both boys and girls, as well,” Cauchon said.
Performances by the Doug Mitchell Band, the Somersworth High and Tri-City Christian Academy select choruses, Tricky Dick the Magician, and other soloists and duets will highlight the main stage. Dance teams, cloggers and jump roping teams will be featured on the second stage area throughout the day as well.
Papa Gino’s will be selling pizza, the Boy Scouts will serve up hot dogs and hamburgers, the Lions will make fried dough, the Girl Scouts will offer chili, and other non-profits will also have items such as cotton candy, popcorn and chowder.
Hayrides will be offered all day from the plaza entrance down to the Summersworth Historical Museum and back. Face painting, pumpkin mask making, bead making and Pumpkin Cookie/Pumpkin Cupcake Decorating tents will also be available for the children.
Organizers are also always looking for volunteers to help oversee a myriad of areas and any amount of time would be appreciated.
For more information, call Cauchon at 841-0858 or email Co-Director Anna Houde at annahoude@yahoo.com.
Once again, loads and loads of activities - all family-friendly and pumpkin-themed - will be front and center during the city’s 9th Annual Pumpkin Festival, set to take place on Saturday, Oct. 8.
“Everything’s pumpkin, pumpkin and more pumpkin,” Festival Co-Director Darryl Cauchon said. “Loads of fun for the whole family.”
The Oct. 8 event will feature tents offering pumpkin carving, pumpkin painting, pumpkin putt-putt golf, pumpkin smashing, pumpkin catapult, pumpkin basketball shooting and pumpkin pie eating contests. The festival will conclude with a short Pumpkin Parade down Main Street at 3:30 p.m. with kids encouraged to take part.
Always trying to keep things fresh, the festival will introduce a giant slingshot this year in which kids can fire small pumpkins into orbit.
The primary objective of the festival, sponsored by the Somersworth Festival Association, is to offer areas that encourage participation of parents and children of all ages.
“We really seek to have parents and their kids do things together, rather than the adults standing in the background watching their kids have all the fun,” said Cauchon. “In this light, families can carve a pumpkin together, make a scarecrow together, take a hay ride together, etch leaves together, get a meal from our food court and eat together, enjoy the live music, get a family photo taken to remember the day.”
The event will be held rain or shine. Bracelets sell for $12 per child (adults are free), which allows them access to all activities except the food court. All supplies are provided for each area, including pumpkins to paint, smash, catapult, slingshot or carve. Everything necessary to create a scarecrow, including hay, shirt, pants and face kit, are also available.
The festival runs from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in front of Somersworth Plaza on Main Street, just down the street from General Electric.
Deborah Longo, the library director, will host a continuous “Halloween Pumpkin Storytime” under a tent located in the heart of the plaza. There will also be a family and child photo area managed by local photographer John Huff. Festival-goers can pose behind plywood decorated like scarecrows or simply pose in a more traditional backdrop of hay bales and pumpkins.
“We really want to have a festival that appeals to kids of all ages and not just children 8 years and younger. Older kids will like pulling the trigger to the catapult, building a scarecrow, bowling with a pumpkin for a ball. There’s just so much for that age-group, both boys and girls, as well,” Cauchon said.
Performances by the Doug Mitchell Band, the Somersworth High and Tri-City Christian Academy select choruses, Tricky Dick the Magician, and other soloists and duets will highlight the main stage. Dance teams, cloggers and jump roping teams will be featured on the second stage area throughout the day as well.
Papa Gino’s will be selling pizza, the Boy Scouts will serve up hot dogs and hamburgers, the Lions will make fried dough, the Girl Scouts will offer chili, and other non-profits will also have items such as cotton candy, popcorn and chowder.
Hayrides will be offered all day from the plaza entrance down to the Summersworth Historical Museum and back. Face painting, pumpkin mask making, bead making and Pumpkin Cookie/Pumpkin Cupcake Decorating tents will also be available for the children.
Organizers are also always looking for volunteers to help oversee a myriad of areas and any amount of time would be appreciated.
For more information, call Cauchon at 841-0858 or email Co-Director Anna Houde at annahoude@yahoo.com.
