Favorite Squash

Every Columbus Day weekend pumpkins sprout up along Main street seemingly overnight. What's happening here? Well, its a crazy local event called Pumpkinfest and it has unusual beginnings. It was seeded with a simple scientific question that blossomed into a full-blown pumpkin party that lasts for a week, with most of the grand events--a parade, a regatta, pumpkin drops, a derby, and lots of pumpkin treats--during the holiday weekend. Living locally to the festival, I have joined the crowds some years, frustratingly tried to watch the regatta over the heads of other onlookers, viewed the parade, and generally gotten stuck in traffic on Main Street. This year we waited until the crowds had gone home and simply walked Main, viewing the pumpkins in all their decorated glory, and taking photos without holding up hoards of people and without having hoards of people in our photos. Nonetheless, these orange wonders delight us, and we look forward to seeing what local artists will design them into each year. Its pure fun and involves a huge community effort, from volunteer growers to coordinators, farmers, and law enforcement help to pull it all together. If you're near here anytime in October, it is worth a side trip. There are lots of great restaurants and independently owned shops and water views as well. Here are a few glimpses of our favorite squashes from 2015. For more on this fun festival, see http://damariscottapumpkinfest.com or www.theheartofnewengland.com/travel/me/pumpkinfest-maine.html.

Was wondering where Jonah was--maybe already in the belly?

A pumpkin crustacean

The chickadee in its habitat was our favorite pumpkin!

The largest Atlantic Giant grown in Maine.