1. Pride Pumpkin Festival
2013
East Longmeadow, MA
Submitted by Deb Axtell
Tickets for Groups, Inc.
October 2012

2. Overview
Produce a Pride Pumpkin Festival in 2013 in the center
of East Longmeadow, with the goal of establishing an
annual autumn celebration that includes: dramatic
display of carved & lit pumpkins, costume pageant,
crafts, retail exposure, live entertainment, and fireworks.
Generate exposure for primary sponsor, Pride Stores.
The event will showcase the company’s commitment to
the community, build loyalty with existing customers,
engage new customers, and sign up members for Pride
Rewards and Pride Savings card programs.

3. Similar Celebrations
Some well-known
pumpkin celebrations:
 Circleville Pumpkin Show,
Circleville, OH;
www.pumpkinshow.com
 Keene Pumpkin Festival,
Keene, NH;
www.pumpkinfestival.org
 Milford Pumpkin Festival,
Milford, NH;
www.milfordpumpkinfestival.org

5. The Experience
 Carved pumpkins
are placed at street
level through the
festival floorscape
(with small candles
inside)

8. The Experience
 Not all pumpkins are
on turf; majority are
placed on picnic
bench-style pumpkin
tables. These are
2x4s and 2x6s
constructed for the
festival.
 Stored for annual use.

9. The Experience
 Not all pumpkins are
on turf; majority are
placed on picnic
bench-style pumpkin
tables. These are
2x4s and 2x6s
constructed for the
festival.
 Stored for annual use.

13. The Experience
 As twilight
approaches,
volunteer battalions
hit the streets with
electronic lighters to
light the candles in
each pumpkin

16. The Experience
 The focal point, is the
Pumpkin Tower
 This is a 3- to 4-story
construction, set off from
the main walking area in
it’s own roped off section.
As attendees enjoy the
lower level displays,
retail, crafts, etc.
ultimately they arrive at
the striking Pumpkin
Tower.

17. Tower Set Up
 Backside of tower
scaffolding

18. Tower Set Up
 Backside of tower
scaffolding

19. Tower Set Up
 Backside of tower
scaffolding
 Closer up; Christmas
light holes visible

20. Tower Set Up
 Backside of tower
scaffolding
 Closer up; Christmas
light holes visible
 All lights feed into
electrical box at base
of tower

28. Event Basics
 Pumpkin Carving. Multiple days for “Pumpkin Lobotomy” (cutting
scene at local pumpkin farm).
 The Festival is a single day celebration, with two prior days of set-
up.
 The Festival Location: Meadows Shopping Center (retail, craft, live
entertainment, pumpkins at street level), with Healthtrax parking
area, or, rotary baseball field for the Pumpkin Tower.
 Children’s Activities: costume parade, pumpkin seed spitting
contest, crafts, pumpkin patch games/adventure activities
 Retail Alley: designate area for local crafters and booths, food
sellers, festival merchandise
 Volunteer /Pride Sponsor Tent: register attendees for Pride
Rewards and Pride Savings cards, sign-in of volunteers, pumpkin
lighter distribution.
 Live Entertainment: centrally located stage/risers to showcase local
entertainers; evening fireworks

29. Sample Schedule
 DAY ONE
 Builders erect tower scaffolding, place bench scaffolding and risers for
entertainment
 Merchant tents erected
 Volunteer Meeting at Volunteer Tent Station
 DAY TWO
 Final pumpkin carving
 Pumpkin placement
 Merchants check in at Volunteer Tent Station
 DAY THREE (Festival Day)
 Show coordination (entertainers, crafts, volunteer coordination)
 Begin manual/flame lighting near dusk
 Pride Stores Commitment Presentation + Lighting of Pumpkin Tower at
dusk
 Fireworks
 Late night Clean Up crews hit the area

30. Tower Lighting Presentation Highlights Pride
Stores’ Commitments
The Pride Promise:
Dedicated to providing fast and friendly service, quality products at low prices, with
clean and professional facilities.
The Pride Goal:
Continue operating great stores and expand our growth. We will do so responsibly
and adhere to our commitment to our Partners, our customers, our community and
our environment.
Pride Pumpkin Festival Mission Statement and Charitable Goal:
Our mission is to improve the quality of life through a cultural, family-oriented event
that brings the community together in celebration. We are dedicated to keeping our
communities alive and thriving, and to providing a celebration that truly enhances the
quality of life for our residents, employees, friends, and visitors.
Giving: For every registration for Pride Savings or Rewards card, Pride will donate $1
towards Mary Anne’s Kids, an organization dedicated to support children in Foster
Care.
Festival Traits:
Free, family-oriented, inspirational, community-driven, entertaining, quality, striking
visuals that result in a memorable experience.

31. Festival Location

32. Sponsor Categories
List of sponsors that will be needed to provide financial
support, products and services
 Pumpkin tower scaffolding. Local builder to fabricate and place scaffolding,
and display benches.
 Electricity. Local electrical contractor to light tower pumpkins and run
electricity to vendor booths.
 Website. Volunteer to design and post messages onto Pride Pumpkin
Festival website.
 Advertising. Need local publication to run print ads for the event. Suggest:
Reminder Publications
 Signage/program printing. Suggest: Staples or Priority
 Pumpkins. Suggest: Pell Farm, Meadowbrook Farm
 Tables/chairs/tents. Suggest: Taylor Rental
 Hardware/lighters. Suggest: Rocky’s
 First Aid.

33. Retail Merchants

34. Entertainment

35. Children’s Activities

36. The Pumpkins

37. The People

38. The Finale

39. The Clean Up