There was plenty to be seen, eaten and purchased at the 44th Annual Pumpkin Festival at French Memorial Park on Sunday.
The beautiful weather attracted a large crowd to a festival which is used to drawing in over 30,000 people each year.
This year, visitors could enjoy local food, fall decorations, rides, handmade crafts and more. The festival boasted more than 210 vendors, the largest number in the event’s history.
A Halloween costume contest kicked off the opening of the festival and students from the LoPresti Elementary school were selected to serve in the Pumpkin Festival’s Royal Court. The Royal Court members are chosen from one of the three Seymour elementary schools each year.
There were also plenty of arts and crafts for kids at the fair, from sand art to ceramic painting. Victoria Pacey, 4, of Shelton enjoyed painting her ceramic mold of Shrek.
All money collected at the festival is donated towards local scholarships and various town organizations such as the RR Pearson Memorial Fund, Spooner House, Seymour Fire Marshall and more.
“The festival began 44 years ago as a way for community members to give back and help the community,” said Lucile Ewen, treasurer of the Pumpkin Festival Committee.
First time fair-goer Grace O’Connell, 7, of Newton, enjoyed sampling a taste of the fudge and sitting at the top of the hill and to observe the fairgoers below.
Vendors had trinkets and treats to satisfy even the pickiest visitor- handmade soaps, holiday decorations, beaded jewelry, inferno-hot jarred pickles, and more.
“I’ve attended the festival many times, but this is the first year I have come as a vendor,” said Sandi Kozloski of Primitive and Country Items in Stratford.
Kozloski brought many fall home decorations for display. She said her Halloween paper-mache pumpkins and light-up ghosts were the hottest sellers.
One thing is for sure, no visitor left this festival empty-handed, or with an empty stomach.
Mark your calendars if you missed it, the festival will be held Sept. 19, 2010.
Find out more about this year’s festival at www.pumpkin-festival.org.
