34th annual Milford pumpkin festival
For more than three decades the Milford Pumpkin Festival has brought residents of Milford and surrounding towns, as well as our Massachusetts neighbors, together for three days of fall fun with food, music and, of course, pumpkins. This year’s festival is from Friday, Oct. 6, to Sunday, Oct. 8.
“It has been a staple in Milford for … many years,” said Wade Campbell, president of the Granite Town Festivities Committee, which has hosted the festival since 2018.
The event originally started on The Oval as a way to raise funds for Town Hall renovations. Now, the money goes to fund the following year’s festival as well as to sponsor local leagues, art students and other scholastic areas.
“We take that money and try to donate it back into the community,” Campbell said.
The festival has expanded to the downtown area with many businesses and restaurants becoming involved over the years.
“A lot of them participate by selling their wares out front, or they put on their own events, which is kind of cool because they’ll have special musicians or comedians come into their venues, so everybody gets a little bit of action so to speak,” Campbell said. “They also sponsor … the window painting around The Oval [by] having a pizza party after they’re done decorating.”
Dozens of vendors will be present, including nonprofits supporting local schools, and craft vendors selling handmade products like jewelry and knitted items. Food and drink vendors at the tasting tent include LaBelle Winery, Pasta Loft Restaurant and Spyglass Brewing; there will be a wide range of food like Thai, American, fried dough and fair food. There will also be a beer, wine and spirits tent on the community house lawn Friday and Saturday night, and kid-friendly activities during the day like pumpkin painting, face painting and scarecrow making on Saturday and Sunday.
Other happenings include a pumpkin carving and lighting display, bounce houses and games and pumpkin catapulting.
Throughout the three days there will be live music on the Oval Stage and Community House lawn stage by performers such as Fox & The Flamingos, The Slakas and The New Englanders.
Visitors can watch Eric Escobar create a pumpkin festival mural over the course of the festival, and, weather permitting, do some stargazing with amateur astronomers who will have telescopes set up at Keyes Memorial Park on Friday and Saturday evening.
One of the biggest draws, according to Campbell, is the haunted trail on Friday and Saturday night.
“There’s a little bit of something for everybody,” Campbell said. “I hope that everybody has a great time … [and] for the festival to continue to grow for many years to come. … We try to put a smile on everybody’s face.”
34th annual Milford Pumpkin Festival
When: Friday, Oct. 6, 5 to 9 p.m. (opening ceremony at 6 p.m. on the Oval stage); Saturday, Oct. 7, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Sunday, Oct. 8, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Where: Downtown Milford
Haunted trail
When: Friday, Oct. 6, 6 to 9 p.m.; Saturday, Oct. 7, 5:30 to 9 p.m.
Where: Emerson Park, 6 Mont Vernon St.
Cost: $5 for adults, $1 for kids 10 and under (children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult)
Beer, wine and spirits tasting
When: Friday, Oct. 6, and Saturday, Oct. 7, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Where: Community House Lawn
Cost: $20 per person for 10 tasting tickets
Milford historical walking tour
When: Saturday, Oct. 7, and Sunday, Oct. 8, 8 to 9:30 a.m.
Where: Begins at the Carey House, 6 Union St.
Pumpkin painting, scarecrow making and face painting
When: Saturday, Oct. 7, 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.; Sunday, Oct. 8, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Where: Community House Lawn
Cost: $15 per pumpkin; $15 per scarecrow; face painting is $1 for one cheek and $5 for full face.
Pumpkin carving and lighting display
When: Saturday, Oct. 7, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Bring carved pumpkins to Band Stand by 6 p.m. You can also bring your own from home.)
Where: On The Oval
Cost: $12 a pumpkin
Pumpkin catapult
When: Saturday, Oct. 7, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Sunday, Oct. 8, 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Where: TD Bank lower lot
Cost: One pumpkin is $3, two pumpkins is $5
Featured image: Milford Pumpkin Festival. Courtesy photo.