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Pumpkin Fest to add seasonal flare to Shop n' Stroll

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BY ERIC HORCHY

THE SUNCOAST NEWS

Published: October 21, 2009

NEW PORT RICHEY - After a successful launch last year, Pumpkin Fest will again add a little autumn-time feel to downtown Saturday during New Port Richey's quarterly Shop n' Stroll.

A scarecrow contest, costume contest, pumpkin painting contest and scavenger hunt will highlight the daytime festivities.

All were successes last year and organizers are looking forward to a continuation this Saturday, said Greater New Port Richey Main Street Executive Director Judy DeBella Thomas.

"This year it's a full day of activity downtown," DeBella Thomas said. "It's part of the ongoing strolls that the business community runs and we've just kind of tied into the season now by calling this one Pumpkin Fest."

Shop n' Stroll's are an opportunity for visitors to take to the streets once a month to check out downtown shops and markets while also being treated to an array of sidewalk vendors.

In conjunction with Saturday's events is The Pumpkin Patch, which will be operated daily until the end of the month by First United Methodist Church of New Port Richey. The patch will be at the corner of Main Street and Grand Boulevard, as well as at the church, 5901 Indiana Ave.

Just outside downtown, at the New Port Richey Recreation and Aquatic Center, on Van Buren Street, there will also be a Diabetes Awareness Day event in the skate park with activities set up for children.

Each of the four Pumpkin Fest contests will offer an opportunity to win prizes.

The scarecrow contest, which costs $5 to enter, will reward first place with a $50 gift certificate to Karen's Gifts, a $25 gift certificate to Pasco Camera and a $20 gift certificate to Makai Kayak. The scarecrows can be designed however desired and attached to lampposts on Grand Boulevard.

Both the pumpkin painting and costume contests will take place in Cavalaire Square.

The costume contest is divided into five categories based on age: 3 and under, 4-7, 8-12, 13-17 and 18 and over. One prize will be given out per age group and judging takes place from noon to 1 p.m.

Scavenger hunters will have from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. to pop into participating businesses and seek out a printed image of a pumpkin hidden by store employees. Seekers will be given a map showing which shops to go to. Turning in completed maps gains entry into a cash-prize drawing.

If entering contests aren't on Saturday's agenda, there will also be a hayride, jump castle, face painting, storytelling, dunk tank and other games on hand.

Connecting the day's activities will be the Friendly Kia Trolley that will run all day long to ease transportation issues.

For more information on how to enter any contests - such as reserving a lamppost for a scarecrow - or to set up a vending kiosk, call Greater New Port Richey Main Street at 727-842-8066.

Eric Horchy can be reached at 727-815-1071 or ehorchy@suncoastnews.com.

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