The Pumpkin Harvest Festival, hosted by local economic development organization Saco Main Street, drew hundreds of people on Saturday as families perused down a closed off Main Street, took part in festival games and relished in community company.
Many children sported their Halloween costumes, getting them worked in before the big night on Oct. 31.Over 30 area businesses and nonprofits turned out for the event, setting up tents along the sides of Main Street. At the center of the festival, Saco Main Street members organized games on the event stage, including a pie eating contest, rock, paper, scissors world championship and a donut-eating contest put on by Saco’s newly opened Krispy Kreme.
Executive Director for Saco Main Street Rob Biggs said businesses were allowed to set up tents with no fee, but in order to do so they must have had something they could provide to children and families free of charge, whether it be a game or gift item.
“Their only obligation was to have an activity or game for kids,” Biggs said. “It’s a celebration of the community and hopefully the businesses and nonprofits there were able to connect their message to the community.”
The day’s events also made it possibly for locals, of all ages, to get to know their city officials.
Mayor Ron Michaud was one of several notable city officials to enter the dunk tank, which was a popular attraction throughout the day.
Tobin Roche, 3, of Saco took a few tries at dunking Michaud, hitting the bulls-eye on his final toss and sending the Saco mayor into the dunk tank.
“He’s been loving it here all day,” said Roche’s mother Lauren.
In addition to the variety of games, close to 500 decorated pumpkins were on display all afternoon. Students from the Young School, Thornton Academy Middle School, CK Burns School and Saco Middle School contributed to the vast array of decorated pumpkins.
Festivities began winding down around 4 p.m. as Main Street started to clear. Biggs said he was amazed by the turnout this year.
“This was probably three or four times the number of people we were expecting,” Biggs said. “Obviously the weather helps that number, but this was just a great showing.”
— Staff Writer Ryder Schumacher can be reached at 282-1535, or via email at rschumacher@journaltribune.com.
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