19th Annual Keene New Hampshire Pumpkin Festival is Coming October 17th 2009

During the long winter months, many Northern communities have "festivals of light" to help ward off the cold darkness of winter. In Keene, NH, they bring together pumpkin carvers from all over to create a "festival of pumpkins" for visitors' delight each October. A monstrous pumpkin tower is the culmination of the festival, with hundreds of glowing pumpkins reaching up into the night sky, as over 50,000 people ooh and aah in unison.

Started in 1991, the first Keene Pumpkin Festival was a modest success with 600 carved pumpkins displayed. Since that time, the town has broken the Guinness Book of World Records for the most lit pumpkins seven times. The largest number of carved pumpkins gathered together in Keene was in 2003 with 28,952 pumpkins taking over the streets. In 2008 the number was down to 22,568, probably due to the windy and rainy weekend. The pumpkins are displayed along Main Street on wooden platforms that seem to stretch on for blocks. Funny, scary, original and down-right weird pumpkins all have their place in the October sun.

While thousands of lit pumpkins are special enough themselves, the organizers of the Keene Pumpkin Festival don't stop there. Available are numerous free activities, such as the Children's Costume Parade, accompanied by entertainers and marching bands. Show off your expectorating skill at the pumpkin seed spitting contest, chow down at the pumpkin pie eating contest, and enjoy live entertainment on three stages downtown. For a modest $2 charge there is a climbing wall, and perhaps best of all, albeit a bit disturbing, is the Museum of Pumpkin Oddities, billed as a collection of "pumpkin peep shows and pumpkin mutants". The pumpkin tower is lit as darkness descends with the grand pumpkin total announced at 8pm, and is followed by a display of colorful fireworks at 8:30.

Not-for-profit groups will be selling a wide variety of food at the festival. Lines are always long given the large crowd, but well worth the wait. Spiral apple-fritter donuts, curly fries, gyros, burgers, kabobs, decadent candied apples, homemade fudge and more are available every few steps along Main Street. As the food booths are run by non-profit groups you can do something good to support the community as well as please your taste buds. Festivals are always a great place to buy crafts and the Keene Pumpkin Festival is no exception. Whether you're looking to get an early start on your holiday shopping or just want something special for yourself, you won't be disappointed at the wares available.

The Keene Pumpkin Festival will delight all ages in your household. If you plan ahead you'll have a much more enjoyable visit. Children will easily tire so a stroller or backpack carrier is essential. Be sure to have some water, juice and snacks available as the food lines can be long and kids don't always wait as patiently as we'd like. For seniors in the group, don't be too proud to bring your cane, walker or scooter. You'll be more comfortable and mobile, and there is a lot of ground to cover to view 25,000 pumpkins! Have an umbrella available or pack a rain poncho in case the New England weather doesn't cooperate. Sorry, dogs aren't allowed so please leave your pooch at home.

This year's festival is open from at 10am - 9pm with free shuttle buses from parking areas starting at 10:30am and running until 11:00pm. Parking is $10 for cars/passenger trucks, and $30 for buses and RVs. There will be plenty of signs directing you to parking areas.

Mark your calendars now to attend this fun-filled family event. Bring a carved pumpkin with a 3' votive and help break another world record!

http://www.pumpkinfestival.org/index.html