Pumpkin Festival...
 

Did anyone here go?

What did you think of it?

My wife took our grand-daughter (I had to work). They enjoyed it but she missed the shuttle to her parking area and had to walk a bit to get back to the car. Sounds like a great job considering they had a lot less time to plan it out, than when it was in Keene.

I wasn't impressed.. There was a ton of pumpkins sure but overall found my self after 20 minutes saying wellll let's walk 30 minutes back to the car, grab a slice of pizza and get the heck out of here.

Seemed fun for the kids.

We found it to be well organized and a fun event for families. After all Halloween and pumpkin carving is mostly a kids/family thing.

We parked in a large lot just off 106 near the community college and within 10 min we arrived in downtown Laconia by bus. Also no waiting on the trip back later, worth the $15 per car.

As with many others, wondering the downtown streets led to discovering a number of small businesses/shops that we had not known about. Like the bike shop and the picture framing shop.

This turned out to be a huge event for the city of Laconia. The restaurants downtown were slammed. Very family friendly crowd. It was nice to see everyone walking the streets of downtown. This will become a great annual event for the city and region.

We stopped for lunch at Chili's in Tilton yesterday, a very quiet Monday there. We commented to the barkeep about how quiet is was and she responded that it was fine for her, she needed a recovery day. The place was jammed all day Saturday during the pumpkin fest and they did more that $20K of business that day. The most ever. And this is a ways from downtown Laconia.

What did they end up having for pumpkins? We're we close to breaking the record?

Not even close !
 

This year, the festival fell short with 9,567 pumpkins.

The group broke the world record for the most jack-o'-lanterns lit in one downtown area in Keene in 2013, with 30,581 lit pumpkins.

http://www.wmur.com/escape-outside/l...today/36005788

Yeah but...

Our pumpkins were riot free. :D

My kid and her friend liked it. I enjoyed it too. Mostly because I never go into downtown Laconia (no reason to) but now probably will because I had no idea about all the shops and stores there.

The 5k run in the morning was a hit too. My wife placed first in her age division so she was happy.

It was a good mix of stuff and a good excuse to stay up north and go outside.


https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/564/22...c99250c0_c.jpg

I just noticed that the pumpkins are carved spelling out words/advertisement.:D

I didn't know . . .
 

that there were ties to registering a pumpkin to be part of the record. Not that I would have gone anyway. But I think next year they need to do a bit better by getting the message out there as to how to participate.

Personally, being shuttled anywhere is not for me. Unless, it's a limo bouncing from vineyard to vineyard in Napa. :D

Pumpkin Festival Still Happening
 

Last week the 2022 Pumpkin Festival was cancelled but a week later, after a public outcry, it is back on.

https://www.laconiadailysun.com/news...6cc3c75b6.html

A pumpkin motorcycle helmet?

Did you know you can make a motorcycle helmet by carving out a pumpkin so's it fits on your head just like a helmet ........ wow! ..... :eek:

Here's the proof ....... just Google it ........ 'pumpkin motorcycle helmet'

As long as she can get the financing, I am sure that Karmen would like to continue.

Whether those that were vocal will step up with the cold hard cash ???