Pumpkin Festival will harvest fun for all
The inaugural Art and Pumpkin Festival is bringing the spirit of Halloween to Fort Myers Beach one weekend early. Presented by the Bay Walk Group of merchants, the free event’s festival hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 24, and from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 25. Old San Carlos Boulevard is expected to be alive Friday evening with a “Decorated Light Post” contest, and early risers can enjoy pumpkin pancakes at Yucatan Beach Stand Bar & Grill from 7 to 11 a.m. on both Saturday and Sunday.
“The Yucatan Beach Stand is a proud sponsor of the first annual Pumpkin Festival and art show,” said Yucatan General Manager Stevie DeAngelis. “We are really excited about this festival and the rest of the events being planned at Baywalk. The people putting this together are first rate and thorough. We will be sponsoring the Pumpkin bowling booth where folks can bowl for prizes and help the food bank, too. We will also be featuring giant turkey leg dinners as well.”
The Bay Walk Group, consisting of Yucatan; Smokin Oyster Brewery; Snug Harbor Restaurant; Matanzas Inn and Restaurant; and Shipwreck Treasures expects thousands of visitors to participate in assorted activities on Old San Carlos Boulevard.
The harvest festival will include a “Best Pumpkin” contest, a costume contest, a talent competition, three pumpkin pie eating contests, a pumpkin- carving demonstration, art and food vendors, contests, games, live entertainment and a pumpkin village with a pumpkin patch in Snug Harbor’s parking lot. Sand artists are also expected to be sand-carving pumpkins and symbols of fall.
“I think the event is a great idea,” said Snug Harbor General Manager Mickey Ferry. “Bay Walk has been wanting to increase the frequency of festivals on the street. Between the plaza being right here and the restaurants all working together, it just lends itself to having street festivals. We’re hoping to grow these festivals to the point that they are on a regular basis. People know they can come to the Baywalk festivals because they are well run with quality establishments.”
The Art & Pumpkin Festival will benefit area non-profits such as Ostego Bay Foundation, God’s Table of Fort Myers Beach, Riverside; and the Harry Chapin Food Bank, whom canned goods will be collected for. Cans can also be dropped off at the Beach Observer/Beach Bulletin building at 19260 San Carlos Blvd.
Sponsors for the event include the Bay Walk Group; McDonald’s of Naples and Fort Myers Beach; Bay Walk; Island Sun newspaper of Sanibel and Captiva Islands; The River Weekly News; Kilwins Chocolates & Ice Cream; Perkins Restaurant & Bakery; Winn Dixie Supermarkets; The Beached Whale; Sunstream Hotels & Resorts; Pirate Cruise at Salty Sam’s; and the Breeze newspapers including The Beach Observer and The Beach Bulletin.
Volunteers and sponsors are asked to visit www.pumpkinfestonthebeach.com for details.
Here are two newer events added to the list of fun:
Howl-O-Ween Child & Pet Costume Contest
The Art & Pumpkin Festival is sponsoring a community-wide Howl-O-Ween Costume Contest on Saturday and Sunday at 9 a.m. at the Bay Walk on Old San Carlos Boulevard The Child & Pet Halloween Costume Contest will be judged by local business owners contributing to the event and reigning local Miss USA & Miss Teen USA title holders. A child winner & a pet winner will be announced each day.
“On Fort Myers Beach, we love all the holidays, but Howl-O-Ween is probably one of our favorites,” said Tammy Karau, store manager of Kilwin’s. “We love looking at all the great costumes with all the adorable kids ‘with and without fur’ modeling them.”
If interested in having your child or pet or both compete, please arrive 15 minutes prior to the contest for line up. There is a registration fee of two canned meats (i.e. tuna, chicken, spam, etc.) to compete, which will be donated to the local food pantries.
Golden Gourds talent show
The Art & Pumpkin Festival is sponsoring a community-wide Golden Gourds -“Southwest Florida’s Got Talent” competition on Saturday, Oct. 24, at 11 a.m. and Sunday, Oct. 25, at 1 p.m. at the Bay Walk on Old San Carlos Boulevard.
Singers, dancers, actors and instrumentalists from age 5 to 105 are all welcome to perform. Competitors will be judged in three categories – juvenile, teen and adults – by a panel of Fort Myers Beach officials and the audience. The Pumpkin Festival on the beach will be graced with the beauty of our local Miss Florida USA Title holders and Miss Florida Teen USA Title holders. The winner in each category on each day will receive a prize.
To register visit www.pumpkinfestonthebeach.com and click ‘Schedule’ and select sign up for Golden Gourds Talent Contest. There is a registration fee of Peanut Butter & Jelly to compete which will be donated to the above listed local charities.
For a complete listing of events go to www.pumpkinfestonthebeach.com
“These events at Bay Walk are just a great way to kick off our snowbird season and, from the weather reports, they’re coming back sooner,” said DeAngelis. “Just a reminder, our second annual Snowbird festival is Nov. 29.”
Mary Hopkins contributed to the story