Held each year in "Pumpkin Park" since 1985, the event has been called "...the best Pumpkin Festival in the Nation" (Pumpkin Parade Magazine, 2005. pg 21). You can hear great music in the Pumpkin Park Music Hall, partake in a Pumpkin Pie eating contest, join in the Pumpkin Run, watch the crowning of Miss Pumpkin, buy a Pumpkin cookbook, find out who can spit Pumpkin seeds the furthest, shop at one of the many Pumpkin vendors, or do any number of other Pumpkin related events.
If you get gourd... sorry, bored, you can wander over to the Maze at Cooper Farms where you'll also find, you guessed it, a few more PUMPKINS!
The West Virginia Pumpkin Festival began as a way to help local farmers with the raising and selling of pumpkins. It has become one of the most anticipated and fastest growing events in West Virginia. That's why town officials decided to change the name of their fair town.
"Strike while the iron is hot," said city leader, Micah Nello. "We thought it was important to rename the town while the event is still growing and not wait until excitement died down. This year is going to be even better. CNN and MSNBC and all the other networks will be here, including FOOD Network. Changing our name was the best think we could have done. We even commissioned a special 'Pumpkin' fireworks display. The final rocket will explode into the shape of a smiling Jack O'Lantern. The kids are gonna love it!"
John Rickson, a long-time resident, let his feelings be known on "58 Live" an afternoon radio talk-show on 58 WCHS. "I've said for years, we ought to just go ahead and name the town, 'Pumpkin'. I don't know what took them so long. Those orange gourds have always been good to us and helped put us on the map. I always dress in Orange, I named my dog, 'Jack', and my wife's nickname for me is 'punkin'".
Rickson has been chosen as the King of the Pumpkin Parade, this year.
