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Sun shines down on Waterford’s Pumpkinfest

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October has proven to be a stellar month for major community events in Norfolk.

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After a wet week in 2018, the Norfolk County Fair rebounded this month with good crowds thanks to a prolonged stretch of pleasant weather.

As for Pumpkinfest in Waterford, organizers couldn’t have asked for a better weekend.

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Some who attended Saturday’s parade and Pumpkin Bowl game at Waterford District High School came away with a sunburn. Sunday was even more spectacular, with many Pumpkinfest patrons attending in T-shirts and shorts. Sunglasses were a must both days.

“It’s been excellent,” said Bordan Tchegus, a past president of the Waterford Lions and a member of the club’s car show committee.

“It’s a win-win for the community and the Lions and Lionesses. The Big Guy co-operated this weekend. The car show alone – we have about 1,000 entries. We’ve had to turn people away. We have no more parking.”

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Running out of parking says a lot about the car show’s popularity: It is held on the football field at Waterford District High School. Mel and Kathie Goodwin attended with their 1930 Ford roadster, which they have dubbed “The Tombstone.”

“Car shows are not usually this big,” Mel Goodwin said. “This is one of the biggest in the area.”

Vendors and exhibitors who signed on for the 37th annual Pumpkinfest were not disappointed. Traffic through the Pumpkinfest Marketplace in the gymnasium at WDHS was steady all weekend.

“Definitely, 100 per cent,” said first-time vendor Jason Weatherup of Toronto, owner of the Bad Ass Den.

“It’s been wonderful. It’s wonderful how the community comes together here. There’s been a lot of support for this market. We’ve heard good things about it, so we came down from Toronto. We’ll definitely be back.”

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The WDHS band and choir also did a brisk trade with their popcorn and fudge concession.

“It’s been pretty well non-stop,” said choir member Veronica Boone. “Sometimes we’ve gone a couple minutes without a sale but at other times we can’t make the popcorn fast enough.”

Boone added a well-attended Pumpkinfest has a real impact on the school community. For one, a healthy bottom line at the end of the weekend means the school could be in a position to pay more for the rights to a first-rate musical for the 2020 spring production.

Mary Umberhower, owner of Kozy Kids clothes in Simcoe, said it was a great weekend to be a vendor.

“It’s been a successful Pumpkinfest for me,” she said. “Lots of kids were in after the parade. It’s so nice that the whole town gets into Pumpkinfest. Not only do I enjoy this show, it’s a fun show.”

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