We found the Great Pumpkin: It's in Grahamsville. Photo from the Daniel Pierce Library's website.
Long before Starbucks ever dreamed up a Pumpkin Spice Latte, the good folk of Grahamsville were celebrating the iconic orange squash. This weekend, outsized gourds take over the little Sullivan County hamlet, as the Daniel Pierce Library celebrates the 28th Annual Giant Pumpkin Party and Children’s Parade.
Growers young and old will be bringing the most outstanding specimens from their patches to compete in a contest that features awards for “Most Beautiful” and “Most Unusual” as well as the standard size competition.
But size isn’t the only thing that matters. There’s a pumpkin-decorating contest, a “Country Bake” yummy-edibles competition, an obstacle course, scarecrow design, and competitive hay-bale tossing, to name but a few. Throughout the day, all will be invited to the Game Tent to compete in timed challenges featuring “regular household items.” And in the Haunted House Carnival Games, everyone wins.
The day begins with kids in costume gathering at the library at 8:30am for the parade, after which all will retreat to the Grahamsville Fairgrounds for a full day of harvest-themed merriment. Besides the competitive events, you can enjoy hay rides, carriage rides, pony rides, a petting zoo, autumnal festival fare (home-baked doughnuts anyone?) and craft vendors.
28th Annual Giant Pumpkin Party and Children’s Parade. Grahamsville Fairgrounds, Route 55, Grahamsville. 10 am-5 pm (Children’s Parade at 9 am.) Saturday, Oct. 5, 10am to 5pm. Children's Parade kicks off at 9am. Free admission, rain or shine. For more information, see the Daniel Pierce Library's website.
