The 2010 Damariscotta Pumpkinfest and Regatta brought “more people than ever” to Lincoln County to enjoy the event’s growing array of attractions, Pumpkinfest co-founder Buzz Pinkham said.
“It really started Thursday afternoon,” Pinkham said. Pinkham and his crew delivered giant pumpkins to their positions in front of Main Street businesses Oct. 7, but “couldn’t get into some places [because] they were already packed.”
The high turnout extended throughout the weekend and into Tuesday, with the appearance of “some kind of film crew” on Main Street, Pinkham said.
Like the behemoth 1400-lb. pumpkin from one of Pinkham’s seedlings, the festival has matured from humble beginnings.
“It really started with Bill Clark,” Pinkham said of one of his co-founders. “He’d been growing giant pumpkins for several years.”
Clark wanted others to join in, and Pinkham and Clark began growing and giving away seedlings at Pinkham’s business, Pinkham’s Plantation. That was six years ago. “This year, we gave away over 600 seedlings,” Pinkham said. About 300-400 volunteer growers participated and “over 150 pumpkins” returned for the annual weigh-off.
The rest of the festival – the regatta, the original and astounding pumpkin art, the pumpkin drop – developed from the question, “Once you grow a giant pumpkin, what are you going to do with it?” Pinkham said.
Pinkham credits the runaway success of Pumpkinfest to what he calls “the power of the pumpkin.”
“I think there’s a certain fairy tale association with pumpkins, whether it’s Cinderella, Peter the Pumpkin Eater, Charlie Brown and the Great Pumpkin… It connects people with imagination and fantasy,” Pinkham said. “It brings the kid out in everybody.”
The festival also depends on the work of hundreds of volunteers – over 100 for the children’s games on Water Street alone – and sponsors. The sponsors – over 100 – help festival organizers cover a wide range of expenses, including insurance, the $10,000 weigh-off purse and the crane necessary for the pumpkin drop.
Even the crane company chips in, however. Usually Keeley Crane Service charges $10,000/day to rent the machine but for Pumpkinfest they simply ask for labor and fuel costs, Pinkham said.
The gridlock in town, while irksome for commuters, benefits the local economy. “When you have a town full of happy people, they’re more likely to spend their money,” Pinkham said. “I’m sure you can find a lot of big smiles on a lot of downtown businesses’ faces.”
The “nature” and unique community spirit of Damariscotta helps make the festival possible, Pinkham said. “I always maintain it takes a pumpkin to grow a village.”
While Pumpkinfest’s continued popularity seems assured, Pinkham promised a “bigger and better event next year” with surprise additions.
“Long, cold winters are good for events like this,” Pinkham said. “We’ve got some ideas. Hang on to your socks. If you thought this year was good, wait ’til next year.”
