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Back to Press Releases
September 2007
THERE'S JOY IN PUMPKINTOWN - PUMPKIN CAPITAL HOSTS EPIC FESTIVAL
THERE'S JOY IN PUMPKINTOWN - PUMPKIN CAPITAL HOSTS EPIC FESTIVAL
HALF MOON BAY, CALIFORNIA -- The roads are open, the sky is clear. People are happy, autumn is near. It doesn't get any better than autumn splendor on the Half Moon Bay Coast with picturesque seaside farm country blooming in all its glory. Fertile fields burst into brilliant orange as millions of pumpkins ripen in the warm sun. Children scamper across pick-your-own pumpkin patches while dodging scarecrows. It's the perfect time of year to celebrate the bountiful fall harvest and Half Moon Bay does it in a spectacular way. Every year, huge throngs of visitors make the trek to the "Pumpkin Capital of the World" for the epic HALF MOON BAY ART & PUMPKIN FESTIVAL, coming up on October 13-14, 2007.
Festivalgoers will enjoy a memorable experience with massive, super-sized pumpkins, the amazing "Picasso of pumpkin carvers", three stages of blockbuster entertainment, everyone's favorite home-spun parade, harvest-inspired crafts, the tastiest pumpkin pie on the planet, enchanting events and contests for the whole family, the never-ending search for the Great Pumpkin, and a bumper crop of 4,000 tons of the beloved orange orb. Expanded festival hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Admission is free.
Festival week starts with the SAFEWAY WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP PUMPKIN WEIGH-OFF, October 8, 7:30 a.m., at the IDES Grounds, 735 Main Street, in Half Moon Bay. About $20,000 in prize money is at stake (the champion gets $5 per pound for the winning pumpkin) with a host of contenders from throughout the west, including eight past champions, gunning for glory in hopes of capturing the coveted title and a share of the prize money in this "Heavyweight Championship" of gargantuan gourds. Defending champion Joel Holland, of Puyallup WA, took top honors in 2005 with his record-setting 1,223-pound Atlantic Giant. The grand champion gourd will be displayed all weekend at the Art & Pumpkin Festival, October 13-14.
From there the 37th annual ART & PUMPKIN FESTIVAL goes all out with spectacular lineup of attractions and events. Festivalgoers will find thousands of gorgeous handcrafted items by America's finest artists and craftmakers while browsing among 250 booths featuring original work in glass, ceramics, metals, fiber, leather, wood, jewelry, and fine art. Sway to the hot and cool sounds on two music stages. The Family Stage, with mesmerizing entertainment for all ages, will feature juggling, comedy, unicycling and magic by the incomparable Grinn & Barrett, and magician extraordinaire Ryan Adler.
Enjoy popular events and activities like pumpkin carving and pie-eating contests, a Halloween costume contest, Young Actors Workshop's bone-chilling haunted house, Great Pumpkin Parade, Scarecrow Contest, Pancake Breakfast, and the 5 & 10k Pumpkin Run. Up and down the street, visitors can watch world-class pumpkin carver "Farmer Mike" demonstrate his unparalleled carving skill transforming giant pumpkins into one-of-a-kind sculptures, test their mountaineering skills on Mobile Rock's climbing wall, concoct their very own colorful wax hands, strap in for the showstopping "Froghopper" ride, stop by for creative facial designs at the High School Art Department's face painting booth, and visit Kiddieland for amusement rides hosted by Coastside Children's Programs.
The festival is famous for its many homestyle dishes, many featuring product from local farms. Feel good: your dining pleasure helps fatten the coffers of community service groups. The sweet and spicy pumpkin, naturally, is the star attraction: pumpkin pancakes, pumpkin pie, pumpkin bread, pumpkin cake rolls, pumpkin cheesecake, white chocolate pumpkin fudge, pumpkin ice cream, pumpkin caramel apples and chicken pumpkin sausages, to name a few. Enjoy coastal favorites like Portobello mushroom sandwiches layered with carmelized onions, Brussels sprouts steeped in a zesty marinara sauce, and artichoke hearts steamed with an aromatic blend of garlic, olive oil, and herbs. Old standbys include grilled Portuguese linguisa sausage, hot beef sandwiches, fried calamari, roasted turkey drumsticks, classic Caesar salad, garlic fries, steamy clam chowder in sour dough bread bowls, crunchy nachos with jalapenos and cheese, hamburgers, grilled corn on the cob, huge baked potatoes with all the trimmings and barbecued ribs.
Honoring the festival, the winemakers at Half Moon Bay Winery have produced a special festival-label wine that will be sold at the Chamber of Commerce tasting booths along with several of their other luscious varietals. For beer lovers, there's Half Moon Bay Brewing Company's Mavericks Pumpkin Harvest Ale, a special seasonal brew that celebrates the crisp flavors of fall, complete with a golden-orange pumpkin hue.
Back by popular demand demand is the Take 5 Lounge where couch potatoes and sports fanatics will find the comfort and enjoyment of their own living room without ever leaving the event. The Take 5 Lounge will be a place where festivalgoers can take a break from shopping and the teeming crowds, relax and hang out with friends while watching their favorite sporting events on a giant screen LED TV, one of only five 9' x 12' mobile, light-emitting-diode screens in America.
Thanks to the festival's partnership with Hewlett-Packard, photos with the grand champion gourd will be taken to a whole new level. For $10, which benefits Back to Basics (an educational foundation), festivalgoers can have their photo taken alongside the giant weigh-off champion pumpkin. Using state-of-the-art HP digital cameras and printers, your photo will snapped and quickly printed onto a cardstock frame for a special take-home keepsake.
The festival runs October 13-14, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Main St. between Miramontes and Spruce Streets in Half Moon Bay. Admission is free. The festival is presented by the non-profit Half Moon Bay Beautification Committee. For information, call 650-726-9652 or check out www.miramarevents.com
CALENDAR/BEST BETS:
WHAT: 37th annual HALF MOON BAY ART & PUMPKIN FESTIVAL, Oct. 13-14, 2007. The World Pumpkin Capital of Half Moon Bay celebrates its bountiful fall harvest and autumn splendor with a spectacular lineup featuring three stages of blockbuster entertainment, live music, the Great Pumpkin Parade, a bone-chilling Haunted House, massive weigh-off champion pumpkins, harvest-inspired crafts, homestyle foods, expert pumpkin carvers, photos with the grand champion gourd, pie-eating, carving and costume contests, the Take 5 Lounge with giant screen LED TV, special festival-label wines and Half Moon Bay Brewing Company's Mavericks Pumpkin Harvest Ale. Admission is free. Presented by the Half Moon Bay Beautification Committee.
WHEN: Oct. 13-14, 2007. Hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. both days.
WHERE: On Main Street between Miramontes and Spruce Streets in Half Moon Bay, CA.
Info-Line: 650-726-9652 or http://www.miramarevents.com
"Farmer Mike", aka the "Picasso of Pumpkin Carvers, will be one of the headline attractions at the world-famous Half Moon Bay Art & Pumpkin Festival, October 13-14 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Main Street.
Visit one of the rustic, pick-your-own pumpkin patches during your visit to the world-famous Half Moon Bay Art & Pumpkin Festival, October 13-14 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Main Street.
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Tim Beeman
Miramar Events
tel: 650-726-3491
fx: 650-726-5181
http://www.miramarevents.com
THERE'S JOY IN PUMPKINTOWN - PUMPKIN CAPITAL HOSTS EPIC FESTIVAL
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