DIY folk art fest comes to Townsite

Planning to make your own Pumpkin People? Take a tour through Pinterest for ideas aplenty

BY ISABELLE SOUTHCOTT isabelle@prliving.ca

Get ready for the first Powtown

Pumpkin People Festival in Powell River’s Historic Townsite. Beginning October 12 and running for the entire month, you’ll find musicians, athletes, men, women, children and maybe even some politicians holding court on lawns throughout the Townsite.

Hockey players, brides, farmers, and movie stars looking decidedly familiar but sporting large orange pumpkin heads will be sitting, standing and even playing along Maple, Ash and Oak Avenues, at the Patricia Theatre and at Henderson House Museum.

Sponsored by Powell River Living magazine, this festival is another way to bring the neighbourhood closer together and to boost tourism in the shoulder season.

I came across the idea last year when a childhood friend, visiting from Nova Scotia, showed me photos of a similar festival in Kentville. After doing some

research, I discovered that pumpkin people and pumpkin festivals are big tourist attractions elsewhere. Earlier this year, Powell River Living enlisted the help of Bill Hopkins and handed out pumpkin seeds to students at Henderson Elementary School and delivered seeds to all Townsite residents via The Townsite Digester.

People are encouraged to display Powtown Pumpkin People on their lawns during October. Townsite is already the

WHAT’S COOLER THAN A PUMPKIN-HEADED WILLIE, DOLLY AND JOHNNY? In October, make a pumpkin person for your yard for the first ever Powtown Pumpkin People Festival.

hot spot at Halloween. Townsite residents already go all out at Halloween by decorating their homes. Some people reported handing out treats to 400 kids last year.

For those of you who are wondering how to make a pumpkin person, don’t worry, it’s easy. These “people” have a head made out of a pumpkin. The features are painted on – don’t carve your pumpkin, as that will make it rot faster. Their bodies are made out of broomsticks, tomato or bamboo pole frames and stuffed with straw or leaves. Grab some old clothes (or buy some from one of our many thrift shops) and let your imagination run wild!

Pumpkin festivals featuring people are popular in Eastern Canada and the United States.

We’re hoping the Powell River Townsite will embrace our orange gourd heads and add another layer of excellence to Halloween in the Townsite.

For more information and to learn how to build your own Powtown Pumpkin Person, stay tuned and continue to read Powell River Living magazine.

What: Townsite residents are invited to sculpt their own yard decorations – with pumpkin heads

When: October 12 to 31 Where: Townsite Why: Creativity and prizes