September Pumpkinfest Update

 

September 30, 2021

Thank you for your incredible support for this year's Pumpkinfest. We cannot say thank you enough.

We’re glad to be moving ahead with our scaled-back plan, which includes Giant Pumpkins on Main St, carved and decorated by local artists. Here are some updates for you.

We greatly appreciate your patience and understanding as we work to make this event as safe and enjoyable for everyone, especially during the pallet and pumpkin deployments. We will work as quickly as possible to get everything set up, and then removed promptly. 

Important Dates: 

  • Oct 2-Oct 3: Volunteer Weigh-Off (Sat) and Great Pumpkin Commonwealth Official Weigh-Off (Sun) at Pinkham’s Plantation on Biscay Rd. 
    PUMPKINFEST MERCHANDISE WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE BOTH DAYS - cash, checks and credit cards accepted

  • Oct 7 early morning: Pallet deployment

  • Oct 7 afternoon: Pumpkin deployment 

  • Oct 8 all day: Artists at work 

  • Oct 9-11 - PUMPKINFEST MERCHANDISE WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE at a pop-up shop at Colby and Gale’s service station on Main St in Damariscotta, from 9am-4pm. cash, Checks and credit cards accepted

  • Oct 9-11: Transportation available to move visitors downtown from Lincoln Academy & Great Salt Bay school.

  • Oct 19: Pumpkin removal (approximately; depending on weather) 


Sidewalk Safety for Visitors for Sat Oct 9, Sun Oct 10, and Mon Oct 11 (if needed)

  • A safety meeting has been held with our local town, police, fire, and emergency services leadership.

  • Theater St will be closed to facilitate pedestrian traffic on both ends the entire weekend with wooden barriers.

  • Elm St. will be closed to facilitate pedestrian traffic on Main St. during the day with wooden barriers.

  • Sidewalk Barriers will be put up on the morning of Sat Oct 9 and taken down Mon Oct 11 afternoon. This will help give visitors more room to see the pumpkins and keep them out of the street. 


Transportation for Visitors for Sat Oct 9, Sun Oct 10, and Mon Oct 11 (if needed)

  • Remote parking will be available at Great Salt Bay school (559 Main St, Damariscotta) and Lincoln Academy (81 Academy Hill Rd, Newcastle).

  • Buses will help move visitors downtown to the pumpkins and your businesses. Final safety procedures for the buses (like masks & sanitizing) are being put in place.

  • Buses will run from 9am-4pm in a continuous loop on Saturday & Sunday from Lincoln Academy and Great Salt Bay School to Water St. On Saturday and Sunday, a handicapped accessible bus will be available from 10am-2pm only. Monday buses may be reduced based on visitor numbers.

  • Water St. will be closed to vehicle traffic to provide a safe place for visitors to board and depart the buses.

  • First aid and porta-potties will be available at the bus drop-off on Water St.

  • A map showing pumpkin locations in front of your businesses will be available online and in paper form on the buses.

  • Crossing guards will help move visitors safely across Main St at the following 3 crosswalks: Water St., Theater St, (by Sherman’s of Damariscotta bookstore, and Elm St. (by King Eider’s Pub)


Other Items

  • Pumpkinfest merchandise is available for purchase locally at Main Street Grocery, Supplies Unlimited, and Hannafords in Damariscotta, and Louis Doe Home Center in Newcastle. It can also be purchased online at DamariscottaPumpkinfest.com/Merchandise.

  • A pop-up sales table will be stationed in front of King Eider’s Pub on Oct. 9 from 9am-4pm - cash, checks and credit cards accepted.

  • As usual, Pumpkinfest will rent a dumpster so town maintenance people can keep street trash receptacles emptied.

  • Porta-potties will be placed at: Great Salt Bay Community School, Lincoln Academy, 2 at Water St. (incl 1 handicapped), and in the downtown back parking lot near Metcalf’s (2 including 1 handicapped) and by Colby and Gale service station (2 including 1 handicapped).

  • Because of the scaled-back plan, we will not be producing a Lincoln County News Supplement this year.

  • Sept. 10 Press Release & Talking Points 


More Information