Waterford residents are getting ready for this weekend’s 41st annual Pumpkinfest celebration.
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Courtney Dennis was busy setting up the display in front of her St. James St. S. home on Wednesday afternoon.
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“Every year we do something new,” she shared. “This year we added the big pumpkin, and the cab from the movie Halloween Town. Mostly I decorate it all, but my dad comes out and helps build everything.”
Dennis noted that both the soap box derby and parade will roll past her home.
“We will have a lot of people in front of our house,” she said. “Me and my partner will be walking in the parade this year with our company Canine Walking Club” that offers dog sitting, walking, and training in Waterford.
A former student of Waterford District High School, she said it was a fun and memorable time with the football game and other events.
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“Being out of school, it’s just fun to have all your family together.”
Pumpkinfest gets underway on Friday, with a highlight being the fireworks display.
The parade gets underway at 12:30 pm on Saturday heading up Main St. S. from the south end of town onto Alice Street. The parade then turns back south on St. James Street South, which is the site of the soap box derby at 11 am on Sunday.
The festival’s main stage and Amplify Norfolk events will be at the Waterford Tricenturena on East Church Street where clothing sales, a craft beer area, spook house, and live entertainment will be showcased.
A midway will operate in the downtown parkette but is dependent on weather conditions.
“Saturday is not looking great,” admitted Pumpkinfest chair Matt Suckel about the weather forecast. “We made a difficult decision this morning to move the Bedouin Soundclash concert to the Old Town Hall. That was made due to the weather, with the potential of rain and lightning.”
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Pumpkinfest raises money in several ways including vendor fees, car show and marketplace admissions, and clothing sales. Proceeds go to the Waterford Lions Club for community projects, and last year an additional $10,000 was donated to snack programs in local schools.
“It’s really about community,” Suckel observed. “Bringing people together and having a ton of activities to do.
“The fireworks, parade, car show, vendors, entertainment, kids’ zone and spook house combine to put on a pretty amazing event for families, and everyone in general.”
For full details and a schedule of events visit
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