More than just pumpkins at Pumpkin Day

October 12, 2023 @ 9:29 amArts & Entertainment, News

‘Batman,’ a.k.a. Avyukt Champaneria from Fergus, sketches a design on a pumpkin. Photo by Robin George
Kevin Bender's artistic carvings helped inspire kids to carve their own pumpkins for the competition. Photo by Bill Longshaw
Kevin Bender has been carving giant pumpkins at Pumpkin Day in Elora for 15 years. “I was an ice sculptor for many, many years,” Bender said, but carving pumpkins is a vastly different craft. Photo by Robin George
Bastian Kuenzler from Kitchener carving a pumpkin in a Luigi outfit. Photo by Bill Longshaw
Carved pumpkins lined up for consideration. Photo by Bill Longshaw
Four-year-old Jason Durst from Fergus with his little brother Koa Durst and dad Jason Durst work together to carve their pumpkin. Photo by Robin George
Megan Primeau, left and Bellamy Omar. Photo by Robin George
Freshly carved pumpkins sit side by side during the event. Photo by Bill Longshaw
Avyukt Champaneria, a.k.a. ‘Batman’ helps his mom Bhumika Chauhan draw a scary face on their pumpkin. Photo by Robin George
Lila Voros from Fergus holding a bearded dragon she named Sunset during the Pawleys Pets Reptile Show at Bissell Park. Photo by Robin George
Lucy Shaw from Guelph volunteering with the reptile show. She’s holding Sunset, a bearded dragon, Cheese, an albino pine snake, and fettuccine, a corn snake. Photo by Robin George
Kate Vandermeer, left, and Olwen Angus holding a corn snake. Photo by Robin George
Melissa Chilton showing daughter Bennett a lizard. Photo by Bill Longshaw
Martin Ouellette, left, and Ty volunteered to help kids with reptiles and pumpkin carving at Bissell Park. Oulette is holding a Savannah monitor. Photo by Robin George
The Blue Bonnet Lassies demonstrating highland dancing during Pumpkin Day. Photo by Robin George
Wearing traditional regalia and performing a grass dance, Derek Martin is Mohawk from Six Nations of the Grand River and performs with Tribal Vision Dance from Prologue Performing Arts. Photo by Bill Longshaw
Naomi Martin from Tribal Vision Dance of Prologue Performing Arts performing a hoop dance. Martin also shared the Haudenosaunee creation story during the event. Photo by Robin George
Naomi Martin led attendees at Pumpkin Day in the alligator dance, to “create good energy and good medicine. Photo by Robin George
Paul Whitaker helped entertain Pumpkin Day attendees with live music. Photo by Robin George
Babarinde Williams, or Baba, led an exciting African drumming workshop for all ages. Baba brought dozens of djembes to Bissell Park and explained that in West Africam where Baba and djembes are from, drums are an important part of the culture. Photo by Robin George
“When we are sad, we drum. When we are happy, we drum. When a baby is born, we drum. When someone gets married, we drum,” Baba said. Photo by Robin George
The Hessels family waits with excitement for the drumming workshop to begin. Photo by Robin George
A giant octopus took a few strolls to browse the vendors at the Elora Farmers Market during Pumpkin Day on Oct. 7. Photo by Robin George

ELORA – Bissell Park was abuzz Oct. 7 during Pumpkin Day, with live performances, a reptile show, pumpkin carving, drumming, Haudenesounee stories and dancing, and the Elora Farmer’s Market.

This year more than 35 pumpkins were entered in the contest for the best carved pumpkin, and the first place winner was Emma Trussell. 

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