PUMPKINTOWN — Fall is here again, and thousands of visitors will descend upon the 36^th annual Pumpkin Festival in Pumpkintown on Saturday, October 11th. The festival will be held from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on that day. This is the time of year to enjoy a wonderful Fall day in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains while taking advantage of some outstanding shopping, music and food. The festival will kick off at 9 a.m. with the parade from the Pumpkintown Fire Department and ends after passing the Oolenoy Community Building (5301 Dacusville Hwy – Hwy 135). The parade is always a treat to behold, you never know who or what will be in it. After the parade the Pickens High School ROTC will hold the flag raising ceremony and then the festival fun and games will begin and continue to 5 p.m.

This year’s festival will feature over 170 arts and crafts vendors who will be displaying and selling products that are all handmade or homemade – no commercial products are accepted at this festival.

There will be food available throughout the festival grounds and inside the Oolenoy Community Building. There will be hamburgers, cheeseburgers, hot dogs, sausage dogs, barbecue, fried pies, fried fish, and homemade ice cream in addition to the numerous baked goodies available around the perimeter of the community building. And the famous barbecued chicken plates will be available around 11:30.

Bluegrass/gospel music and clogging will be featured throughout the day, so bring your lawn chairs or blankets and enjoy these events.

Amusement rides for children will be available on the back side of the festival grounds. Cotton candy and kettle corn will be set up in the children’s area.

Festival souvenirs will be available outside and inside the Community Building, which will include T-shirts, sweat shirts, totes, car tags, and books written by local authors. A large display depicting the early days in the Oolenoy Valley will be on exhibit inside the Community Building. Also inside the Community Building you will find a table set up for the sale of raffle tickets for the festival quilt which is given away each year. The quilt for this year was designed by Susie Flowers and quilted by Ann Stowe. Tickets for the quilt are $1 each, and the drawing will be held at 4 p.m. that afternoon and you do not have to be present to win.

Pumpkins of all sizes will be available for purchase at the entrance to the Community Building. TD Bank will have a tent set up with paints available for children to dress up their pumpkins. The pumpkin pile is also a popular spot for parents to take pictures of their kids.

The festival is free and open to the public. Handicapped parking is available in the Oolenoy Baptist Church parking lot and golf carts will be available to shuttle folks to and from the festival grounds.

No pets will be allowed on the festival grounds unless it is a service animal.

This annual event is sponsored and organized by the Pumpkintown Community Club and it raises money for community projects that benefit many area organizations. So come out and enjoy a delightful day with us.

For additional information on the festival or rental of the Oolenoy Community Building contact Susie Flowers at 864-898-0261.