TURNERS FALLS — Men, women and children dressed in witch hats, superhero capes and masks of all sorts strolled up and down Avenue A Saturday for the seventh annual Franklin County Pumpkinfest.
Guests looked from left to right at the large variety of local craft and food vendors, stopping to admire long rows of carved and painted pumpkins. Some were no longer orange, but dazzling shades of sky blue, lime green, red and silver, while others grinned and sneered with battery-operated lights shining from within.
Michael Nelson, one of the event’s organizers and a selectman in Montague, said he started the event with friends because they saw similar pumpkin festivals in nearby towns and thought Franklin County needed its own.
The pumpkins, Nelson said, are perhaps the most popular draw, especially once they are lit at 5 p.m. The event ran from 2 to 9 p.m.
“It’s nice to get out and see all the carved pumpkins,” said Patricia Oates of Lake Pleasant, who has attended Pumpkinfest with her husband, Brian, all seven years.
Local schools — Northfield Elementary School, Hillcrest Street School, Sheffield Elementary School and the Academy of Early Learning — are particularly involved in providing pumpkin displays, Nelson said. Judges handed out blue ribbons to the best pumpkins at the end of the night.
Kathryn Greenwood Swanson of Montague Center has been attending Pumpkinfest for the past seven years, and now brings her 2-year-old son, Linden, who enjoys seeing the faces on the pumpkins.
“It’s gotten bigger and more interesting each year,” Greenwood Swanson said of Pumpkinfest.
“There’s literally something for everyone,” Nelson said.
The event featured about 140 vendors — between food, crafts and beer — as well as two music stages and one performance stage. Each music stage included performances in between acts from Karen’s Dance studio, and a local musician, Robert Lord, who plays on a skeleton piano.
Oates said the music is her favorite part of Pumpkinfest.
“I just hope they keep doing it,” she added.
For children, the event featured an activities area with crafts, as well as a pumpkin decorating station.
Nelson said the event really draws the community together.
“People from every aspect of the community are somehow involved, whether it be the fire department, the police department, everyone,” he said.
Greenwood Swanson said Linden enjoys meeting members of the Montague Center Fire Department, who have operated a booth at Pumpkinfest for six years.
“We have a great time. We love coming down and seeing people in town,” said Montague Center Fire Lieutenant Dave Rehorka.
“It’s the people,” said Kelly Phillips of Cliff’s Smokin’ Backyard BBQ and Catering, a business that has had a booth at Pumpkinfest for seven years. “Seeing all the different costumes, it’s almost like family.”
Phillips said the event has noticeably grown every year, and she enjoys seeing new costume ideas each year.
“It’s just one of those events you should never miss,” she said. “It’s all about family and friends. It’s good, clean fun.”