FARMINGTON — Historic Front Street’s first Pumpkin Festival features pumpkin weighing, chucking, carving and pie-eating contests.

Planned for Saturday, Oct. 13, the festival also offers a 5K trail race, entertainment, sales and a haunted walk on the Old Narrow Gauge Trail followed by a bonfire.

The idea for the festival came when businesses along the Front Street neighborhood decided to piggyback on Gifford’s ice cream fall closing event, John Moore of Narrow Gauge Cinema said. There’s always a lot of people who come for one more ice cream before winter, so the idea is to bring them up the street as well.

“There’s some good businesses on Front Street. We want people to be aware of what is available,” Tammy Parsons of Divine Inspirations said.

After a couple of discussions with Shannon Smith, organizer of the successful Wilton Blueberry Festival, a variety of activities were planned for this first Pumpkin Festival, albeit on a much smaller scale, Moore said.

It’s the first year and we’ll see how it goes, he said, but it does fill an October void. Farmington Fire and Rescue has decided against offering a haunted corn maze this year.

When Knowlton Corner Farm’s barn burned last December, gone was the chance for the popular October haunted barn held to benefit the Franklin County Animal Shelter.

Instead Mt. Blue High School’s boys and girls soccer teams will hold a fundraising haunted walk along the Old Narrow Gauge trail from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Moore wasn’t sure just what the students have planned, but he thought it might cause a scream or two. The students are charging $4 for adults and $2 for ages 12 and under. 

Those who participate get a coupon for a free s’more during the bonfire planned from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Snack Shack at Prescott Field. The bonfire is open to everyone even if they don’t walk the walk.

These and other events are either free or for a minimal charge.

About 200 pumpkins have been gathered for different contests and activities including pumpkin carving and painting from 1 to 5 p.m. at Divine Inspirations, Parsons said. 

Parsons is supplying the pumpkin, decorating materials and tables to work on at her shop for just $2. Prizes will be awarded.

The shop is also hosting a pumpkin-carving contest. Previously carved pumpkins can be dropped off from 10 to 11:30 a.m.

The Farmer’s Union is using its feed scales to hold a pumpkin-weighing contest from 2 to 3 p.m., Ivan Moore, assistant store manager, said.

Just Ask Rentals wants to see who can chuck an approximately six-inch pumpkin the farthest. There are 50 pumpkins with four age classes competing from 2 to 3 p.m., Moore said.

Depot Laundry is offering a pumpkin pie-eating contest at 3 p.m. Participants need to sign up.

Hayrides will be from 1 to 4 p.m. start at Just Ask Rental, a kid’s scavenger hunt for ages 3 to 12 starts at a booth near Divine Inspirations from 1 to 4 p.m., and children arts and crafts will be offered from 1 to 3 p.m. at an entertainment tent in the cinema’s parking lot.

The music of a dance band and folk trio, T-Acadie, will be featured in the tent from 3 to 5 p.m. and followed by local talent from 5 to 6 p.m. before new vaudeville stage performer Randy Judkins provides a comedy/variety show from 6 to 7 p.m. Judkins show is sponsored by Franklin Savings Bank.

Local talent continues the entertainment until 8 p.m. Food vendors are available at the cinema lot from 1 to 6 p.m.

Narrow Gauge Cinemas will also host the screening of “Betting the Farm” at 2 p.m., 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. It’s an independent film about farmers who were dropped from Hood Milk and then formed a co-op to distribute their milk, he said.

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