Write a commentThe Greater Oswego-Fulton Chamber of Commerce invites you to celebrate the harvest season at the Annual CNY Great Pumpkin Festival.
Saturday, Oct. 4 from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., and Sunday, Oct. 5 from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., the CNY Great Pumpkin Festival will fill Washington Square Park with food vendors, crafters, fresh from the farm produce, music, games and rides for children of all ages, and of course , giant pumpkins.
The Great Pumpkin Weigh-In, with Just Push Play Productions serving as emcee, begins Saturday, October 4 at 10:00 a.m. The giant pumpkins will be on display at the CNY Great Pumpkin Festival Saturday only.
The two-day event will also feature a wide variety of entertainment and activities including:
- Air Hops, and Face Painting for the kids
- Arts & Crafts Vendors
- Carnival Rides & Games
- 50/50 Drawing
In addition, there will be live performances each day. Entertainers scheduled to perform include:
- The Domicolo/Barlow Band: 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Saturday
- Lisa Lee: 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Saturday
- Long Time Coming: 4:00 6:00 p.m. Saturday
- Sophie Woods: Throughout the day Sunday
- Irish Step Dancers: 2:00 p.m. Sunday
- Open Hand Puppets courtesy of ARTSwego Performing Arts Series: Sunday
This years CNY Great Pumpkin Festival will host three new events:
- Pumpkin Pie Contest: Breakout your favorite pumpkin pie recipe and enter your homemade pumpkin pie for a chance to capture the Blue Ribbon and own bragging rights to the best tasting pumpkin pie in Oswego County! The contest will feature two categories, one for individual community members and one for restaurants and bakeries.
- Pumpkin Carving Contest: In an attempt to break the official record for the most lit jack-o-lanterns in one location, a record currently held by the Keene, N.H. Pumpkin Festival with a total 30,581 jack-o-lanterns, school age children are encouraged to enter as many jack-o-lanterns as they like. Entries will be accepted all day Saturday and until 12:00 Noon on Sunday at the Chamber booth. Pumpkins will be available to purchase at the Chamber booth for those wishing to submit their entry on Sunday.
- The Golden Pumpkin Award: Awarded to the restaurant/eatery that offered the most unique pumpkin themed menu item the week prior to the CNY Great Pumpkin Festival.
"We want to emphasize the agricultural aspect of the festival," Committee Chairman Zanewych said. "We are not only focusing on the giant pumpkins, we are celebrating all things pumpkin. In addition to the Pumpkin Pie Contest we are encouraging all food vendors to offer at least one or two pumpkin related foods or beverages. We anticipate everything from pumpkin flavored coffee and pumpkin spiced fried dough to pumpkin breads and cookies. The possibilities are endless and we encourage our vendors to be creative."
"The CNY Great Pumpkin Festival is one of the highlights of the fall season," added Jacqueline Thorpe, membership coordinator for the chamber. "I invite everyone to join us in Washington Square Park for two days of pumpkins, food, and fun for the whole family as we celebrate all things pumpkin."
