The leaves are changing to brilliant colors of red, yellow and orange; and with the temperature dropping, it is the time of year for pumpkin festivities to begin.
This year marks the 100th Circleville Pumpkin Show, and they are celebrating with many exciting events.
One of the main events happens tonight. The Parade of Bands begins at 8 p.m., with the Ohio State Marching Band as the featured band. Others are high school marching bands from all over Ohio.
“The single most requested thing was the band,” said Nanisa Osborn, chairperson for the 100th Anniversary Committee.
After the parade, there will be a concert with the band at the intersection where the parade began, she said.
There are a variety of things to do and see. On every corner there are different food stands, with treats like Italian sausage, pumpkin ice cream and even cream puffs.
There is a mural of the Pumpkin Show painted on the side of a downtown building. It consists of “old-time” Circleville with a horse-drawn carriage, pumpkins, people of the town and an archway to the city. The painter is local man Eric Henn, and it will be completed by the end of the Pumpkin Show, said Dorcas Morrow, Pumpkin Show Trustee.
Another main attraction is the pumpkin pie, 14 feet in diameter, made just for this year’s festivities, Morrow said.
The pie has a tent all its own so visitors can stop by and see.
“I’ve heard they have awesome pumpkin pie,” said Jessica Pugh, a first time visitor to the Pumpkin Show and a junior in communication.
On Saturday, there will be a parade including the queens from festivals around Ohio, as well as 50 of the previous queens from past Pumpkin Shows, Morrow said.
“The first Pumpkin Show Queen that we had will also be there,” Morrow said.
On Wednesday there was a pumpkin weigh in, where contestants submitted their home-grown pumpkins. The biggest one for this year was 1,324 pounds. This display is located in the middle of town.
The streets are lined with vendors selling items from OSU apparel to arts and crafts.
The middle of downtown is where the tower of pumpkins is displayed. This is a constructed tower containing various-sized pumpkins, biggest on the bottom and smallest on the top.
Pictures can be taken in the front of the tower, in the photo spot, said Osborn.
All these events will happen during the four-day-long festival. It has a lot to offer everyone wanting to go down and have a slice of pie or any other food they might enjoy, and listen to the band.
“I’m so excited to see the band,” Pugh said.
The Circleville Pumpkin Show is happening from the Oct. 18 to Oct. 21.
