Hard work and determination are what the Pumpkin Festival Committee are all about, and they proved their skills paid off with this year’s festival despite the weather, ’cause in Northeast Ohio everyone is used to that!
The 44th Annual Pumpkin Festival was a huge success. From the Town Hall, the aroma of pancakes and waffles filled the air during the early morning hours of 8:30-11:00 as everyone made their way to the festival, which officially opened at 10:00 am. By noon, music filled the air as well by singer Raelynn Debevits. The first contest to be held was the apple peeling contest; others that followed were the bubble gum blowing, nail pounding, rock and egg toss, and the ever so delicious pumpkin pie eating contest.
There is always something special for the children to do. Many enjoyed the pony rides and games, while others joined in on the fun with the very unpredictable pumpkin roll. You never know what direction or how far those lop sided pumpkins will go. Everyone laughed and gasped in amazement as one pumpkin made its way east on 322 towards 528; it was an amazing roll!
Pumpkins were sitting in every direction you turned. The Cardinal Music Boosters held their annual event of selling pumpkins earning funds toward their music program. Sunflowers, zucchini, various gourds, along with carved and decorated pumpkins winning top honors were on display for everyone to view, but the top pumpkin of all was grown by Jerry Rose, taking the highest honor weighing in at 1,501 pounds for a 1st Place Blue ribbon. Doug Burgett received 2nd Place with his 329 pound pumpkin and 3rd Place went to Bob Hrubic with a pumpkin weighing in at 177 pounds. Congratulations to all who participated!
If pumpkin pie, pumpkin cookies, pumpkin roll and pumpkin spiced popcorn did not fill you up, there were plenty of vendors at the festival to visit. Many enjoyed a hotdog, French fries, cheese on a stick, cotton candy, or caramel apple along with apple cider and hot coffee. A tented picnic table area was once again available in the center of the festival for your convenience. For a delicious sit down or take out meal, all anyone had to do was head over to the Huntsburg Congregational Church for their Turkey Dinners with all the trimmings.
Music continued all weekend with scheduled performances by The Cardinaires, a local show choir from Cardinal High School; X-Chroma Tones’; Fort Huntsburg Band; The Walnut Hill Cloggers; The Highlanders Bagpipes and Drum Group; Northern Comfort Band; and the Usual Suspects Band.
The festivities kept going all weekend with visits by the Geauga County Sheriff’s Department K-9 group, University Hospitals pet pals, a special performance by the Cardinal High School Marching Band, a classic car show with an award for the People’s Choice. The annual pumpkin run began sharply at 9 am for those wanting to get in an early run at Geauga Park District’s Headwaters Park.
Worth checking out was the Huntsburg Historical Society’s informative and educational display about the history of Huntsburg in the Town Hall. Crafters and vendors set up and were ready to sell by 10:00 am in the garage and gym selling their handmade merchandise, and Hobo Bingo began at 3:00 in the Huntsburg Town Hall.
The Parade
The biggest festivity of all occurred on Sunday at 2:15. It was time for the 44th Annual Huntsburg Pumpkin Festival Parade, and what a parade it was! People gathered along the street’s edge to catch a glimpse of the ever popular military procession, musical groups, fire trucks, tractors, local business vehicles, parade floats, and the newly crowned 2013 Pumpkin Festival Queen Miranda Skitcki with her court along with the 2013 tot king and queen.
The festival’s festivities ended with the basket raffle drawings. Those in attendance enjoyed visiting with friends and family at an event that sponsors and festival volunteers and committee members should be extremely proud of. Next year’s 45th Huntsburg Pumpkin Festival has big shoes to fill if it has any chance of topping this year’s event!
