From Friday, Oct. 17 from 5:00 pm – 9:00 pm, into Saturday, Oct. 18th, from 10:00 am to 9:00 pm, Penn State’s Arboretum hosted its annual Pumpkin Fest event. The festival marks the transition into spooky season, aiming to bring the community together and celebrate the changing season and transition into fall. Pumpkin Fest’s 15th anniversary marks 15 years of a joyful gathering of the community, in celebration of fall and of State College.
The festival featured a pumpkin giveaway and contest, as well as pumpkin decoration and carving, a puppet show by Adam Swartz Puppets, a demonstration of professional pumpkin-carving by “The Pittsburgh Pumpkin Guy,” Brendan Conaway and even more fall-themed activities and details shared by Penn State’s Outreach team through media coverage of the event.
For years, Penn State’s Arboretum has been the seasonal location for the Pumpkin Festival. Pumpkin Fest is an event that many State College community members look forward to. The creative display of lit pumpkins is what most visitors of the festival are looking out for, lighting up the late hours of the event and bringing enjoyment to the Arboretum. Many of the visitors have taken part in Pumpkin Fest for as long as they can remember, with some having remembered going to Pumpkin Fest when they were children.
Simone Stager, a Penn State University student and Pumpkin Fest volunteer, has been attending the festival for many years. “I’ve been coming here since I was pretty young. I, regardless of how old that I’m getting, I always have so much fun here. I think it’s great to be immersed in the State College community,” Stager said.
Stager added that her favorite part of the festival is seeing all of the pumpkins lit at night. As well as personally enjoying the memories that Pumpkin Fest brings to her, Stager also encourages others to join in on the fun. “I think it’s really great to bring my friends here and kind of let them know what Penn State is about, more than just Penn State. What State College is about, because it brings in so many different people,” Stager said.
Last year, about 2,000 festival goers attended the first night of Pumpkin Fest alone. Many of these festival goers are not members of the State College community, but they still enjoy the festivities. Lily Najjar had a particular interest in seeing the decorated pumpkins with her friends at Pumpkin Fest. “It’s such a beautiful day to frolic in the Arboretum and look at some lovely fall foliage and pumpkins,” Najjar said.
Overall, 565 total pumpkins were carved at this year’s Pumpkin Fest. The pumpkin carving contest was a highlight among all age groups and featured separate sections for entries, organized by age and with specific categories such as the PSU student category. The event continued with various other activities and festivities around the Arboretum. Attendance remained steady throughout both days of the event as guests viewed the displays and enjoyed their time at the Arboretum.
Behind the intensive process of organizing events like these, many people must contribute. Braydon Gemmill-Beck, Marketing Specialist at Penn State Outreach Marketing, shows that despite the difficulties in organizing an event so large, enjoyment can still be found in the seasonal display. Pumpkin carving, scheduled events for children, live music and food vendors kept volunteers busy throughout the event. Though these tasks take a lot of work to put together, volunteers and Arboretum team members alike can enjoy the outcome of their efforts and see the change that Pumpkin Fest makes on the community.
“What makes the event so special is how it brings everyone together: community members, local businesses, Arboretum volunteers, staff, and Penn Staters alike, all coming out to celebrate the fall season. Thousands of people attend each year, and it’s always amazing to see the creativity and joy that everyone brings to the gardens,” Gemmill-Beck said. This year’s Pumpkin Fest once again highlighted the collaboration between Penn State’s Arboretum and the local community, extending to those who are not from State College. The event continues to grow annually, with more participants, visitors, and volunteers contributing to its success.
