Pumpkinfest 2017 is set to take place September 30 and October 1 in downtown Port Elgin.

Hub Staff

Pumpkinfest committee members rolled out the welcome mat for councillors and staff to join the Committee ahead of its 32nd year, during a delegation to Council September 11, where council approved a $30,000 repayable loan for the festival.

Pumpkinfest Chair Brad Scott, Saugeen Shores Chamber of Commerce Manager Joanne Robbins and Chamber President and Pumpkinfest Committee member Pier Donnini shared road closure information and details about new features at the festival; with Robbins distributing pumpkin seeds along with an invitation to councillors to brush up on their seed spitting skills.

Previous celebrity winners include Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound MPP Bill Walker and Georgian Bluffs Mayor Alan Barfoot. Robbins rallied councillors to beat the two politicians as the title hasn't been home in a few years. She confirmed that Brantford based country band, Dry County, whose website boasts “where AC/DC meets Alabama,” will again be playing the entertainment stage September 30.

Robbins also informed councillors that Brampton Batman and his Dark Knight inspired bat-mobile will be taking the weekend off from crime fighting in order to attend the festival September 30 and October 1.

Donnini then joked that he gets “the super fun part of the presentation” and told councillors that ahead of the 30th anniversary year (2016) the committee spoke to community members about how they could improve the festival. “Last year we asked what’s the thing that can make [Pumpkinfest] more relevant and the recurring theme was that there had become a small disconnect with the community and the festival. So we took that very seriously and brought it all downtown... it was scary because it was change but it was successful and our attendance was up 17 percent, so people were happy with the change.”

Donnini later added that he didn’t want to stop the momentum and that during his time working with and watching the Saugeen Shores Celebrates Canada’s 150th Committee in action, he noted a range in committee members from council members to various non-profits and a buy-in from a large sub-section of the community; the variety was something he felt was lacking in the Pumpkinfest Committee and was something they would work toward. “In fact I'm going to be asking every one of you,” said Donnini to the councillors, “to find out what more we can do.”

With that the committee members requested a $30,000 re-payable loan for Pumpkinfest, which Donnini called a “one time event,” saying they hope they won’t have to use it but it will “help to have it in their back pocket.”

Councillor Don Matheson thought that the move downtown had been a great idea and wished them all the best. The councillor added that he might practise his seed spitting but joked that he didn't think he would rank with the two sitting on council’s opposite corners (Deputy Mayor Luke Charbonneau and Councillor Dave Myette).

Councillor Mike Myatt thought that expanding the Pumpkinfest Committee was a good idea and asked what kind of financial contribution the festival had been given over its 31 years, besides in-kind service, to which Robbins replied, “In 30 years we have never asked for a cash contribution.”

Long-time Pumpkinfest volunteer, Deputy Mayor Luke Charbonneau said he was a big fan of the festival and brought up the difficulty that events have been having all across Ontario. He made reference to the recent decision to discontinue the Maple Syrup Festival at Saugeen Bluffs[http://saugeenshoreshub.ca/news/3422-a-passing-of-the-sweet-torch-as-long-standing-festival-moves-to-downtown-port-elgin.html] and move it to downtown Port Elgin. Charbonneau said that [Pumpkinfest] had evolved immensely over the years and agreed that the right partners needed to be at the table “and re-envision that event and make sure that it’s sustainable. I think it can be sustainable in the future, I think it just needs us to get together,” he said.

Following the delegation, council members moved a motion to provide Pumpkinfest with a repayable loan of $30,000 “to give Pumpkinfest the bridge they need and stability they need to ensure that they can pay their bills going through the current cycle and then for council to consider as part of the 2018 budget process,” said Charbonneau.

Saugeen Shores Chamber of Commerce Manager Joanne Robbins, Pumpkinfest Chair Brad Scott (centre) and Pumpkinfest Committee member and Chamber President Pier Donnini, during the September 11 Committee of Whole.