The Great Cortland Pumpkinfest A Comm-Unity Effort

In 1996 community members of Cortland gathered to organize an annual event, the Great Cortland Pumpkinfest. The Crown City started the festival as a way for the agricultural-based area to “celebrate the harvest season” and bring the county together. Community involvement and participation has lead to the success of the festival that takes place each year during the first weekend of October. People have embraced the event and each year as autumn approaches, they look forward to attending the Pumpkinfest. Each year the festival has grown larger and attracted more and more people from the neighboring communities. This year’s annual festivities will take place on Saturday, October 6 from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM and Sunday, October 7 from 12 noon to 5:00 PM.

Behind the scenes area individuals and businesses expend much time and energy to accommodate the interests of the community. Preparations begin many months prior to the two-day event as volunteers unite to coordinate the details that create a memorable time for anyone who attends the festival.

Attractions are family-centered and include a petting zoo, hayrides, pony rides, children’s games and entertainment, music, crafters, food sales.  An annual favorite is the giant pumpkin weigh –off and a relatively new event, the pumpkin drop. New this year is Antique Fair, where antique items will be displayed and available for sale.

This year the Pumpkinfest Committee will be offering a cookbook titled “Harvest Delectable’s”. This collection of 250 recipes submitted by community members can be purchased for $10 and all of the proceeds will go towards helping to offset the cost of putting on the event. The cookbook is dedicated in memory of Carol Deloff, a founding committee member who passed away in November 2011.

Even if you are unfamiliar with the Pumpkinfest, you will notice a flurry of activity in the days leading up to the event. If you drive across Church Street in downtown a couple days prior to the festival you will notice that, much like when the circus comes to town, tents will begin popping up inside Court House Park. You will also see various size pumpkins decorating the park’s fountain at the end of West Court Street. About 300 of the bright orange squash-type vegetable adorn the festival.

Pumpkins are used not only as an autumn decoration but also as a nutritious source of food. Mashed pumpkin is used mainly in desserts – the most popular being a custard pie. For the last 15 years the United Presbyterian Church, located nearby at 25 Church Street, bakes between 350 and 380 pumpkin pies that are sold at the festival. Any member of the church congregation is welcome to help roll the piecrust, prepare the filling and bake this favorite dessert that is sold at the festival. Two sizes of pie or a single piece are available to purchase. Linda Parker, who coordinates the pie baking, says the ladies who participate donate their time because they “really enjoy it.” In addition to the sale of pumpkin pies, the church will be preparing a Pumpkin Pancake Supper the evening before, Friday, October 5th from 4:30 to 7:00 PM in the church’s dining hall.

During the two-day festival you may notice antique tractors traveling the streets of Cortland. Members of Tractors of Yesteryear (TOY) operate the old-fashioned hayrides. The TOY club has been involved with the festival for over ten years. The first couple of years, semi-modern tractors were used to pull the wagons but in recent years, the antiques perform the work. The antique tractors are rotated throughout the two-day affair. They take turns resting and are displayed in the small parking lot adjacent to the park. During the festival, club members sell theater-type popcorn and raffle tickets. Club member Roger Karn says of the volunteers, it is “something we like to do.” The Saturday prior to the festival, September 29thTOYs is hosting an antique tractor show and pull at the Central New York Living History Center on Homer Avenue.

For many families, the Pumpkinfest has become a tradition. For the full schedule of events, go to the Pumpkinfest website at www.cortlandpumpkinfest.org.