This weekend, Laconia will be the center for all things pumpkin in the Granite State, as the 2016 New Hampshire Pumpkin Festival takes place downtown on Saturday.
Prepare for a day and night of family fun, and bring your own pumpkin.
Last year, thousands of people from across the Northeast were drawn to downtown Laconia and nearly 10,000 jack-o-lanterns were lit simultaneously in the early evening.
Pumpkins are available now at local farms and stores. If you want your pumpkin on the main tower, you need to register online at nhpumpkinfestival.com, as soon as possible. It will cost $10 for a reserved space. Those pumpkins must be delivered to Veterans Square starting Friday morning at 9.
Schools, businesses and civic organizations are urged to reach out to local businesses to purchase pumpkins. Appletree Nursery, Beans & Greens Farm, Lowe’s in Gilford, Moulton Farms and Vista Foods are all working to provide plenty of gourds. It’s time to get your pumpkin carved and ready to help the city try to set a new world record for the most lit jack-o-lanterns.
Groups with 20 or more pumpkins may drop them off between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Friday. Vehicles will be guided by volunteers to drop-off locations. School pumpkins will be displayed along PumpCANALly this year.
The jack-o-lantern lighting begins at 4 p.m. The festival has officially submitted an application for the Guinness World Record of most lit, carved pumpkins. Counting will begin about 7 p.m. and the total will be announced at 8 p.m. Pumpkins must be outside, carved and illuminated to count toward the record.
Every pumpkin needs a candle that will stay lit for three hours. The preferred type is a three-hour votive wax candle. If weather is a concern, the battery-operated tea lights are an excellent choice, though not as bright as the real thing. If you have extra candles, please share them. As jack-o-lanterns are lit, lighters will borrow extra candles for empty ones. Candles will be stocked at two Welcome Centers while supplies last.
“We can never have too many candles,” said Karmen Gifford, event organizer and president of the Lakes Region Chamber of Commerce. “If you have access to three-hour votives or an aunt at Yankee Candle, we welcome all donations!”
The day starts at 9 a.m. with a pancake breakfast at Holy Trinity School, then the festival runs from 10 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.
There will be performances throughout the day, including Nascimento’s Magic Show; Swing Rockets concert and Baker River Chainsaw Sculptures at 10 a.m.; Eric Grant and Mark Dionne concerts at noon; Don Bartenstein concert at 2 p.m.; Jack Polidora and Boneshakerz music at 4 p.m.
The Runaway Pumpkin run and walk will begin at noon.
The grand parade will be at 1 p.m. beginning at Water Street.
Mayhem at the Mill, a professional haunted attraction, will run from 3 to 7 p.m.
Shuttle buses will be operating at beginning at noon on Saturday and run through 9:30 p.m. Parking is $15 at all official Pumpkin Festival Parking Lots and includes free shuttle bus rides. Look for the bright orange signs. Handicap accessible parking is available near 45 Court St.
For more information, visit NHPumpkinFestival.com.