Battersea Pumpkin Festival This Saturday
Bathed in late summer/early fall sunshine, it is not always easy this year to get ready for the coming cold winter weather.
But one sure sign that autumn will inevitably take hold, aside from the ever later sunrises and earlier sunsets, is the Battersea Pumpkin Festival.
One change that festival fans may notice this year, before they even get there, is a new parking lot and shuttle service from Gerald Ball Park (Moreland Dixon and Battersea Roads). A shuttle service will run from Gerald Ball to the festival grounds starting at 10am on a continuous loop throughout the day. The parking lot/shuttle from Storrington school will be running as well, as in recent years. Aside from the limited parking at the lot just before the festival site, there will be no parking in the village itself.
The pricing has changed this year, for the first time. It will cost $10 for adults, $5 for 5-12 year olds, and $30 for families. Bring cash.
The festival kicks off with a parade on Saturday morning at 9:45, like always, and the schedule is packed all day. Festival events, including wagon and train rides, pumpkin carving, crafts, cookie decorating, music, the vendors market, Bry the Magician, face painting, will all be happening throughout the day.
For the third year, festival goers will have the opportunity to get away from the hustle and bustle of the festival just by walking across the road to the Milburn Creek Nature Reserve. There are two options for the Milburn Trail Art Walk. A short walk to see the one-day artwalk exhibition, or the full Milburn Creek Trail Art Walk, which will be up all month. As an added bonus, by taking the entire art walk in, hikers will arrive at the United Church Hall for the pie social. Slices are $5 each, and full pies will be lined up for sale as well. All homemade.
Back at the site, don’t forget to check out the scale model trains presented by the Frontenac Society of Model Engineers. Rides are included with the festival pass.
The Battersea Pumpkin Festival runs from 10am-4pm.
