Hub Staff

Pumpkinfest Chair, Brad Scott read a deputation at the Monday night's Committee of the Whole meeting with regard to the annual Port Elgin festival. “October 3rd and 4th is just a little more than a month away and the Pumpkinfest staff and committee are gearing up for this fantastic community event for the 29th time. We are here tonight to thank you for your continued support and to update you on Pumpkinfest 2015.”

Some of the new attractions at the festival this year will include the Little Tracks Petting Zoo, which will feature up to 30 farm animals including Donkeys, Goats, and Chinchillas, a larger Straw-Bale Maze and Tim the Puppet Tamer presenting ‘The Petit Chef.'

It will also be the 25th anniversary of OLG’s Cinderella’s Carriage Classic Car show, which is one of Ontario’s largest two-day outdoor car shows.

Pier Donnini, who is on the Pumpkinfest and Chamber of Commerce boards spoke to council about some concerns regarding the future of the festival. “I think we've come to a place where we can no longer take it for granted though as a community and what it's going to require is the community,” he said. “It has infinite potential, really there's so many things we can do with this event that we haven't.” He added “I think it is the envy of many communities. I think there are a lot of communities in Ontario that would kill, especially in this economic environment for an event like this and I think we can't take it for granted.”

Councillor Cheryl Grace asked Donnini for more specifics on what he would like to see, to which he replied that because this conversation is happening so close to this year's event, once things have come to a close for this year, “we need to come back to council and collate who's coming, why are they coming, who isn't coming and why aren't they coming.”

Mayor Mike Smith reflected on his experience with the festival. “I've been around since we very first started Pumpkinfest and has been a community event since that time and grown and it's had some great success.” Smith went on to say that there are opportunities to grow the festival and that some new ideas are needed. “That doesn't mean to say that it still isn’t going to be one of the best festivals in Southwestern Ontario. It continues to win awards in Ontario for family fun and I'm sure this year will be the same regardless of weather. Let's hope for really warm weather and a lot of great times.”

To see the entire Committee of the Whole meeting, click HERE.