PumpkinFest set for Oct. 6-8 in Confluence

Madolin Edwards, The Daily American
·2 min read
The "balloon bounce" is a popular attraction for children in the park during the annual Confluence PumpkinFest celebration.
The "balloon bounce" is a popular attraction for children in the park during the annual Confluence PumpkinFest celebration.

CONFLUENCE ― One of Somerset County's celebration of fall is the annual PumpkinFest in Confluence. This year PumpkinFest is Oct. 6-8.

The festival showcases arts & crafts and food vendors in the town park. It also features many other events, including the PumpkinFest Queen Pageant, a 5K run/walk, an antique and classic auto show, a parade and a largest pumpkin contest. Other events include a garden tractor pull, photo contest, tough man fire truck pull, tractor square dancing exhibition, live music and more.

Four area young women will compete for the PumpkinFest Queen title at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 5, at the Turkeyfoot Valley School gym, to kick off 2023 PumpkinFest. They are Kya King, Josey Wilburn, Maleigha Younkin and Makiah Schartiger.

More: Four to compete for 2023 PumpkinFest Queen title

New this year is the Confluence Volunteer Fire Co.'s Pumpkin' Chunkin' Contest Oct. 7 on Barlow Street. Registration starts at 9 a.m. The contest starts at 10 a.m. Participating teams must build a catapult that will launch a 3- to 5-pound pumpkin 100 feet. For a list of the rules, call 814-395-5945.

The annual PumpkinFest Car Show Oct. 8 registration starts at 9 a.m. Trophies will be given for the top five cars, Best Bike, Best “modern” Classic, Best of Show and Fireman’s Choice. The first 100 cars will receive dash plaques. The show will also feature a Chinese auction, 50/50, T-shirts, DJ “Johnny B Good” and more.

A giant jack-o'-lantern balloon watches over the Confluence PumpkinFest activities in the park.
A giant jack-o'-lantern balloon watches over the Confluence PumpkinFest activities in the park.

Vendor booths open at 2 p.m. Oct. 6. Other activities will open at 4 p.m. The activities will continue between 9 a.m. and 10 p.m. Oct. 7, and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 8. The majority of the events will be held in the community center and town park.

The list of activities on Saturday includes kids tractor pull and amateur photo contest, baked goods contest, hay rides, pumpkin carving, largest pumpkin contest and the 32nd annual Tough Man Truck Pull. On Sunday, featured activities include the annual 5K Race, 32nd annual Antique and Classic Car Show, pie eating contest, duck race, bed races, Roof Garden Tractor Buddies and ending with the grand feature parade, which kicks off at 5 p.m. and is sponsored by the Confluence Volunteer Fire Department.

Bands playing in the entertainment tent include The Laurel, Part Time Cowboys, Allison Borek, Country Express and Black Diamond Bluegrass.

There will be a van shuttle from the Turkeyfoot school parking lot and the Ursina American Legion starting at 10 a.m. until the festival closes, both Saturday and Sunday.

This article originally appeared on The Daily American: PumpkinFest set for Oct. 6-8 in Confluence