Snohomish celebrates fall with pumpkin fest

Published 9:00 pm Thursday, October 12, 2006

It may not involve “The Great Pumpkin” of Charlie Brown fame, but during October, the city of Snohomish offers a nonstop schedule of events befitting its “Greatest Pumpkin Weekend” theme.

Several area farms make up the fifth annual Festival of Pumpkins, including Bob’s Corn and Pumpkin Patch, Carleton Farm, Craven Farm, Pumpkin Place, Stocker Farms and The Farm. These spots will fit any family’s interest. Activities include fun like corn mazes and finding a perfect pumpkin for carving.

Call 360-568-2526 or see www.festivalofpumpkins.org for locations and hours.

The farms also can provide racing pumpkins for the Pumpkin River Race, which takes place at 2 p.m. Oct. 28 at Kla Ha Ya Park, 1117 First St.

From 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, pets and their people can turn out for some dressed-up Halloween fun in “Critter Capers,” a pet and owner costume contest. Categories include “Funniest” and “Best Look-Alike.” There is a $5 entry fee, with $1 off if you bring a pet food donation.

Also Saturday, from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., pumpkins will await festival-goers’ painting skills at the Kiwanis-sponsored Pumpkin Lane gazebo.

Of course, kids like to show off their costumes before Halloween. This year, they can do so at the Top Foods Kids’ Karnival at 11 a.m. Oct. 21, at 1330 Ferguson Park St. The Karnival features a costume parade, games and activities.

Oct. 28 is National Make a Difference day. Visitors and Snohomish residents can participate from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Blackman Lake, where a volunteer plant restoration party is planned. Meet at Hill Park, 1600 Park Ave. Contact Lya Badgley, 360-563-5033, for more information.

Kids who are ready for a little Halloween scare will want to check out the haunted house hosted by the Boys and Girls Club on Oct. 28 and 29 at 402 Second St. The club also will present a trick-or-treat carnival Oct. 31. For further information on those events, call 360-568-7760.

The Hal Moe Pool complex at Third and Pine streets will be open Oct. 28 for its Halloween Splash.

Finally, starting at 8 p.m. Oct. 31, adults can take a break from all the kids’ activities with a costume contest and party of their own at the Oxford Saloon and Eatery’s Greatest Ghost Ball, at 913 First St.

Stocker Farms, whose 2006 corn maze features Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner, is part of Snohomish’s Festival of Pumpkins.