Pumpkinpalooza returns to fairgrounds on Oct. 12 during Scarecrow Fest

Provided photos: These are some examples of different ways to decorate pumpkins.

Friendly competition for ‘Best Decorated’ and ‘Best Carved’ pumpkins

Contributed by Katie Oakes, Orleans County CCE Master Gardener Coordinator

KNOWLESVILLE – Master Gardeners will once again offer a fun pumpkin-themed event to coincide with the popular annual Lion’s Club Scarecrow Festival fundraiser on Saturday, October 12. The event is called “Pumpkinpalooza” and is free to the public.

The idea started last year with Master Gardeners Lisa Lancaster and Erica Joan Wanecski brainstorming ways for the public to showcase their pumpkin creations.

This pumpkin was the winner of the “Best Carved” category from Pumpkinpalooza 2023.

“This came out of a love for autumn, and wanting new ways to celebrate it,” Lancaster said. “We started thinking about the Scarecrow Fest and wondered if we could tie in a pumpkin centered event to the existing festival since the themes were so similar.”

The original Pumpkinpalooza event last year included a “Biggest Pumpkin” competition, but logistics of getting extra-large pumpkins to the event proved difficult.

This year’s event will host a friendly competition with prizes awarded for “Best Decorated” and “Best Carved” pumpkins. Anyone in the community can enter as many pumpkins as they’d like. Pumpkin entries can be dropped off at the Lartz Building of the Orleans County 4-H Fairgrounds on Oct. 12 between 9 a.m. and 10 a.m., and Master Gardener Volunteers will select a winner in each category by noon. Winners need not be present to win, however, all pumpkins must be collected at the end of the event at 3 p.m. that day.

Lancaster is the chairperson for the Master Gardener event, and she and the other MG Volunteers on the Pumpkinpalooza Committee wanted to enhance their event this year to include other fun activities beyond the competitions. So, new to Pumpkinpalooza this year, there will be a pumpkin carving demonstration ongoing throughout the event, free pumpkin painting for the first 30 children (while supplies last), and pumpkin-based food recipes available for people to take home. There is no pre-registration required for the Pumpkinpalooza event, and Master Gardeners are hoping that the free event will draw more people to the already popular Scarecrow Fest.

“We really just wanted to expand what the Scarecrow Festival was offering,” Wanecski said. “We are hoping that the Pumpkinpalooza activities will appeal to people who might want something new and different in addition to the traditional activities offered at the Scarecrow Fest.”

The Scarecrow Festival and Pumpkinpalooza events will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Oct. 12 at the Orleans County 4-H Fairgrounds, 12690 State Rt 31 in Albion.  For questions about Pumpkinpalooza or other Master Gardener events, call 585-798-4265 ext. 125 or email klo54@cornell.edu.