Our fourth annual Pumpkins and Pippins fall festival is scheduled for Saturday, October 19 from noon to 4 p.m. at Pine Hill Recreation Area, Waynesboro. Rain location is the Waynesboro Area Middle School.
A fundraiser for Buttonwood/The Institute, the festival includes a full slate of activities and fun for all ages, including a ‘kid zone’ with yard games, a StoryWalk® hike & activity, a photo stand and more.
Pony rides for kids from Serendipity Horse Meadows Farm provide a fun, memorable experience during the festival. In addition, craft vendors offer a variety of wares.
Sugar Hollow Farm Alpacas will be on site during the festival with several alpacas for visiting.
“We also have a pie walk, a pumpkin patch, and a decorated pumpkin contest,” said Jessica Watson, Buttonwood’s assistant director and event organizer. “We invite everyone to support Buttonwood Nature Center by bringing your family to a fall celebration of Pumpkins & Pippins.”
A star attraction is the ever-popular trebuchet pumpkin launcher, which will run throughout the day sending pumpkins flying through the sky. Trebuchets are giant catapult devices that originated in medieval times.
“Our famous trebuchet was built by volunteers who researched the devices thoroughly to create an authentic working model,” Watson said. “Our trebuchet hurls pumpkins, and it’s great fun to watch how far they fly.”
Live music is a festival mainstay. The bluegrass band, Marv Ashby and High Octane, will be the featured entertainment. Based in Berkeley Springs, W.Va., the band is known for dynamic traditional and contemporary bluegrass.
The GRID (Grease, Rust, Iron & Dirt) Tractor Club from Quincy will bring antique tractors, and craft vendors offer a variety of wares. Vendors to date include Cosmic Rhythm, Four Sons Farm, Christine Lehman Art, Little Bear Apiary, GS Gray WoodWorking, Party of 8 Creations, Burn One Down, Rose & Ivy, and Silver Birch Co.
Those attending can buy lunch from Maddie Ann’s Perogies or J&M BBQ food trucks. A bake sale offers a variety of homemade goodies for dessert.
Pumpkins, apples and cider will be available for purchase.
NEW THIS YEAR! Admission is by donation. We accept cash or check.
Sponsorship opportunities available!
Thank you to our sponsors to date:
Lead Event Sponsor: Arlene Unger, ReMax Results
Rouzerville Business Association: Pony Rides Sponsor
Owl’s Club of Waynesboro: Band Sponsor
Dave Shockey Auto: Kids Zone Sponsor
Josh Mummert/Iron Valley Real Estate: Pie Walk Sponsor
Specialty Granules, Inc. (SGI): Bake Sale Sponsor
Linda Barkdoll/Ronnie Martin Realty: Raffle Sponsor
In-Kind Donations— Pumpkins: Harlan Hess Farm; Straw: Jem Farms; Apples: Rhinehart Orchards; Apple Cider: Ivy Hill Farm
Further support by our Today’s Horizon Fund contributors: The Nora Roberts Foundation; Alma W. Oyer; Marge Kiersz; APX Enclosures; Don Gibe and Nancy Erlanson; and the family of the late Carolyn Terry Eddy, with daughters Connie Fleagle & Kim Larkin.
Facility support courtesy of Washington Township.
This event is a fundraiser for Buttonwood Nature Center, Home of The Institute, a nonprofit organization.