Write a commentThis weekend, visitors from all over New York gathered together in Washington Square Park for the annual CNY Great Pumpkin Festival.
In celebration of the harvest season, The Greater Oswego-Fulton Chamber of Commerce filled the park with food vendors, crafters, music, games, and of course pumpkins.
A variety of live performance entertainers took the stage, including the Domicolo-Barlow Band, Long Time Coming, and Irish Step Dancers, while Just Push Play Productions emceed between acts. Though the CNY Great Pumpkin Festival experienced some rain showers on and off throughout the first day, that didn't stop the great amount of people that showed up to the two-day event.
This year, the planning committee hosted three new events: The Pumpkin Pie Contest, which allowed contestants to win the Blue Ribbon for best tasting pumpkin pie in Oswego County, the Pumpkin Carving Contest, and the Golden Pumpkin Award. The Golden Pumpkin Award was given to the restaurant or eatery with the most unique pumpkin-themed menu item. On the second day of the Festival, judges announced Cidermoon Coffee and The Cutting Board as the winners of the Golden Pumpkin Award for their sweet chocolate pumpkin brownies and pumpkin flatbread respectively. 
One of the most popular events at the CNY Great Pumpkin Festival is the Great Pumpkin Weigh-In, where participants compete to win the award for the festival's largest pumpkin. In a lucky surprise, Karl Haist of Clarence Center, N.Y., placed first in Oswego with his 1,725.5 pound pumpkin and then set a new state record at the World Pumpkin Weigh-Off in Clarence on Sunday, with his 1,969 pound entry.
Along with the many contests, festival-goers had the opportunity to have a free wine tasting, hop on spinning carnival rides and shop from local business tents scattered throughout the grounds of the festival. Stoney Meadow Farm was one of the many local businesses participating in the event, providing its own small pumpkin picking farm.
As another successful weekend at the CNY Great Pumpkin Festival passes, we look forward to what exciting surprises next year brings.
