This year’s Pumpkin Fest put on by the Town of Bradford West Gwillimbury looked a little different, with families having to pre-register for limited free tickets in advance.
Saturday's event was 'sold out' within minutes when registration opened late last month, with three separate time slots of 100 people attending throughout the day.
Compared to previous years, the weather was favourable for guests at Henderson Memorial Park, with sunny skies and crisp fall air.
Families arrived during their designated time slots and enjoyed entertainment at the stage inside a bubble-circles painted on the grass to ensure social distancing.
A variety of vendors were set up around the park, including the Bradford Scouts, BWG Library, Bradford & Fire Emergency Services, and the Bradford Lion’s Club.
Title sponsor for the event, New Roads Automotive and stage sponsor, the Curtis Goddard Team from Re/Max Realty were also in attendance.
Free pumpkins were available, as well as hotdogs compliments of the Bradford Lion’s Club, in exchange for a food donation to the Helping Hand Food Bank.
Kids enjoyed a giant inflatable corn maze, soccer darts, mini golf, caricatures, tractor and wagon rides, a pumpkin photo booth, and many local entertainers performing on stage including Mighty Mike’s Juggling Show, Team T & J, children’s entertainer Russ Clayton, and U2 Tribute band, Elevation.
Snacks and other treats were provided by Munchies Concessions run by Emily and Sarah Dahlgren, who were also collecting donations for their charity project, “A Bradford Christmas” in support of the local food bank.
Guests could also purchase a ‘surprise box’ of treats from local bakery, Sweet B’s for $20 with $5 of each box going toward A Bradford Christmas.
To ensure proper physical distancing, a maximum of 100 guests were permitted to visit the festival at one time, with three separate time slots available to sign up for.
“I felt so bad ushering the families off the field so the next batch could arrive," said Bethany Kuboniwa, BWG’s Leisure Events & Marketing Coordinator.
Each group had an hour and a half to enjoy the festivities before the next batch of visitors arrived.
“The kids had a great time [and] they enjoyed the activities, especially since there were no line ups,” shares Kim Hambly, mother of two children ages five and 10 who attended the 12:30 p.m. time slot. "Lots of social distancing, almost to the point that it felt empty compared to past year's."
Hambly thinks the time slot booking was a good idea, but would have been better if more slots had been available so more people could have attended.
For those interested in making donations to The Helping Hand Food Bank, they are in need of the following items: juice boxes, granola bars, fruit cups, cans of fruit, jam, pancake mix and syrup, canned stews, baby food (fruits and veggies and rice cereal), diapers sizes 5 and 6, and baby wipes.
The Town of Bradford thanks residents for their support and patience with this year’s (different) Pumpkin Fest.
