Downtown core adorned with cornstalks thanks to Pumpkinfest volunteers

Group

Pumpkinfest volunteers had a busy Sunday decorating Port Elgin's downtown core with cornstalks and orange ribbons. Back, from left, Ron Knight, Christine Mensher, Pumpkinfest Coordinator Joanne Robbins, Sharon Shular, Connie Barker and Ken Shular. Front, Dave Mensher.

Hub Staff

"Everything's coming together," said Joanne Robbins, Pumpkinfest Coordinator September 23, adding "thanks to the volunteers."

The one of a kind festival is set to take place September 29 and 30 and we caught up with Robbins and a few committee members Sunday morning as they were adorning Port Elgin's downtown core with cornstalks.

"The Pumpkinfest Committee has 13 members but when we count all of our volunteers for the weekend there's over 200 that are ours," explained Robbins. In addition, there are several service clubs and organizations involved in one capacity or another such as the Skating Club, the Karate Club, Iota Phi, the Rotary Club, the Lions Club, the Barbarians, the Cornerstone Youth Group, the Roller Derby Girls and Breakers Swim Team.

"The cornstalks are donated from Hi-Berry Farm," added Robbins, explaining that the produce found in the Harvest Booth Pumpkinfest weekend as well as the pumpkins for pumpkin carving and the gourds for gourd painting also come courtesy of Hi-Berry Farm.

Many vendor favourites are returning such as funnel cakes and lemonade with promises of "new and interesting vendors" at this year's festival.

Also new this year is a BrokerLink Agricultural Tent, located beside the midway between Mill Street and Green Street. The new area which aims to showcase various aspects of rural life will feature, among other things, yarn spinning.

The new Pajama Party with Tim the Puppet Tamer is not be be missed for the young ones. This event will happen in the Bruce Power Weigh Off area, once the pumpkins have been removed from the stage, from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. and will feature a puppet show, videos, popcorn and crafts.

Tragically Hip tribute band, the Practically Hip will hit the Entertainment Tent on Saturday night. Doors open at 8 p.m. at the age of majority event and tickets are $15 in advance (online) or $20 at the door.

The Agricultural Tent, the Pajama Party and the Practically Hip concert are all thanks to a Celebrate Ontario grant, an annual program that aims to help tourism grow in Ontario.

Corn

Ken Shular stands alongside a trailer full of cornstalks, donated by Hi-Berry Farm, which volunteers were using to decorate for this coming weekend's Pumpkinfest.

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