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The 19th Annual Keene Pumpkin Festival
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Keene, New Hampshire
Save the date!

2008: Keene gives off orange glow
Pumpkin count is 22,568; pumpkin-peepers out in force

Anika Clark reporting
Photos by Steve Hooper
The Keene Sentinel

Keene couldn’t recapture its Guinness world record status Saturday, but the city’s 18th annual Pumpkin Festival was a celebration of abundance nonetheless. The official tally of 22,568 pumpkins fell 7,560 gourds short of the world record, but no one seemed to be complaining at the end of the celebration.

Those pumpkins lined the downtown area, the largest of which was about 1,100 pounds, according to event organizers.

Keene set the record for most jack-o’-lanterns in one place in 2003, when residents contributed 28,592 pumpkins for the big event. However, that record was short-lived: Boston held its own pumpkin fest in 2006 and took the lead with a total of 30,128.

Despite falling 7,560 short of a world record, Keene’s 18th annual Pumpkin Festival was a celebration of abundance. A total of 22,567 pumpkins lined downtown Saturday — the largest of which was about 1,100 pounds, according to event organizers. “It wasn’t the biggest we’ve ever done, but it was a really good number,” said Michael D. Selby, who sits on the board of directors for event organizer Center Stage Cheshire County. The streets were crammed with thousands of XXX Will ask if there’s a more updated stat people, many of whom, in turn, crammed their faces with whoopie pies, baked potatoes, grinders and candy.

And there were enough small children dressed like monkeys to make the Elm City look like a study in evolution.

“This seems to be the year of the monkeys,” said Melissa M. Carle, the mother of one of the many wee primates who were walking or being strolled down Main Street.

Carle, who is temporarily living in Nashua with her North Carolina-based family, said she was enjoying her first Pumpkin Festival.

“We don’t have anything like this (in North Carolina),” she said, while snacking on a piece of pecan pie. As for the New England foliage, she added, “It’s beautiful.”

Wearing an identical Old Navy monkey suit as Carle’s son was 1-year-old Caleb Thompson of Spofford, who was perched in the arms of his mother, Jamie. Two-year-old Elizabeth Thurber of Spofford sported a puffier-bellied version, while 1-year-old Gabe Lamb of Swanzey took a turn as Curious George.

During Saturday morning’s costume parade, festival attendees were treated to a plethora of pirates, a crowd of cowboys, orange-faced Oompa Loompas and a young train conductor, “riding” his very own locomotive.

“I never saw so many princesses in my life,” said Mayor Philip Dale Pregent, while pausing from a stroll by Central Square.

Then there was 5-year-old Ella Blanchard of Wilton, who came as a stick of unsalted butter.

Grinning from the depths of a bright yellow foam board headpiece — which was adorned with red measurement marks and wax paper — Blanchard said in a high and matter-of-fact voice that she’d chosen her costume over a plate because a plate “was flat.”

Roland N. Petersen of Nashua was in town for his first Pumpkin Festival Saturday evening and was all smiles near Central Square.

“I think it’s fabulous,” Petersen said, terming what he saw “Americana a la Keene.”

As Petersen spoke, he stood within eye-shot of just a fraction of the thousands of pumpkins that stretched throughout downtown. The gourds were carved into everything from a giant eyeball and a hot-air balloon to a three-tiered snowman.

At least one jack-o’-lantern contained the traditional Pumpkin Festival marriage proposal. But sitting right next to it was a sight less often seen — a pumpkin that answered, “Yes.”

By early evening — before an impending torrent of rain caused organizers to set off the fireworks an hour early — seed-spitting contest participants had already worked their way through roughly one-third of a 10-pound bag. And some of the vendors reported their food supplies beginning to dwindle.

As of about 4 p.m., Keene’s Partner City committee had already sold about two-thirds of its stock of 1,500 hot dogs and bratwurst, according to committee member Gary Henricksen.

The festival’s many entertainers had performed everything from Mindy McCready’s “Guys Do It All the Time” to a Peruvian flute version of Simon and Garfunkel’s “The Sounds of Silence.”

And a smiling Pregent — donning a pumpkin-themed scarf — had reiterated how happy he is to be Keene’s mayor.

“I’m very very pleased with the turnout,” he said. “I’m very proud to be part of this.”

Anika Clark can be reached at 352-1234, extension 1432, or aclark@keenesentinel.com


Coverage of last year's festival

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