Pumpkin Walk 2013

I missed the inaugural Pumpkin Walk in 2012 in Headwaters Park - I was out of town.  I thought the idea was neat, though.  The Erie County Master Gardeners wanted to host a night hike in our Park, but with the addition of lighted jack-o-lanterns along the trails.  Cute, I thought.  Over 1,600 people came last year.

We were floored, and honored by the response.

I was determined to be there for 2013's Walk.  I'm glad I didn't miss it.

Planning truly began last fall, immediately after the first walk.  We ended up with pages of things we'd like to do differently.  How many pumpkins?  How do we keep them looking fresh?  Sponsors?  Lights?  VOLUNTEERS - HOW DO WE GET MORE VOLUNTEERS??????  The Master Gardeners have worked tirelessly all year to make this year a smoother event, even more welcoming, educational, and enjoyable.  Their efforts paid off in numbers:

• Over 720 jack-o-lanterns lined the trails
• A giant pumpkin,weighing over 600 pounds, was donated and carved 
• The Belle Valley Fire Department raised several hundred dollars in refreshment sales
• Over 2,500 people visited the Pumpkin Walk in 2013

600+ pound pumpkin donation - watching the professionals carve it was amazing!

The week prior to the event was full of organized chaos; everyone had an assigned task and they fulfilled it.  Pumpkins were dropped off at volunteer carvers, from kindergartners to scout groups to college artists.  The carving job was so coveted in one school that they held a student contest, the winners being allowed to carve their proposal into one of the pumpkins.  More volunteers picked up the pumpkins.  Other volunteers worked to organize the pumpkins into groups, or get tables ready, or the educational materials.  All Master Gardening events have educational aspects to them, as that is their mission as a group.  This mission fits perfectly into the partnership with the Erie County Conservation District and Headwaters Park, as our goal is to promote the wise use of land and water resources.  

We work very well together.

While the Master Gardeners were organizing the Walk, staff here spent weeks sprucing up the trail to the best of our ability.  We received funding from the Erie County Greenways Program to improve our trail system, including a new boardwalk.  The main trail is now sturdier, ADA accessible, and passable for strollers and visitors of all abilities.  

However, the culmination of all of this work was the walk itself.  The entire sunny Saturday was spent setting up the actual walk.  The entire Saturday.  By 4pm we were placing LED candles in the pumpkins and lighting them (good thing they were LED, as it began to rain promptly at 5pm).  By the first few visitors, the trail was set and ready.  

I almost recommend two walk-throughs.  The first in daylight to see the details and colors. 

The second under the cover of darkness.  As I finally had a moment to walk through at 9pm, I kept hearing words like "enchanted", "fairyland", and "magical". 

The entire park twinkled with winking lights, peeking from tree boughs or from the tops of fallen logs.  You truly had to witness the effect to appreciate it.  

The Erie County Master Gardeners did a fantastic job organizing Pumpkin D'Light Night 2013, and Headwaters Park was pleased to be its host.  We are already preparing for 2014! 

 For more information, contact the Master Gardeners at 825-0900 or Headwaters Park at 825-6403.