Are You Ready For Some Pumpkins?

I’m getting there, psyching myself up for the 100th Annual Circleville Pumpkin Show in Circleville, Ohio. Normal Girl is a 1995 graduate of Logan Elm High School there, where we’ll be taking in a football game and probably running into many people she hasn’t seen in a dozen years.

“What is a Pumpkin Show?” you might ask. According to the website, it’s the sixth largest festival in the United States, with 300,000 annual attendees. Other than the expected pumpkin pies and prizes for the largest pumpkin grown this year, the festival features two pageants (the queens preside over the festivities), a dozen parades, varied musical acts, midway rides, and loads of unhealthy concessions.

I couldn’t be more excited.

When Normal Girl moved to Circleville in 1992, one of the first things her new classmates asked her was: “Have you heard of Pumpkin Show?” Apparently the community has the impression that the festival is a bit more world-famous than it is. As I have scoured the website, I’m starting to think it should be more world-famous. And that’s where this blog comes in, spreading news of this show to at least twenty or thirty new people...

According to the calendar of events, the opening ceremony starts at 11am on Wednesday. This is no weekend festival, folks, but a Wednesday through Saturday affair. Kids don’t to school, presumably most downtown business have to curtail their operations, etc. They are not messing around.

Sadly, we do not arrive until late Thursday afternoon. As a result, we’re missing four parades, two pageants, one karaoke session, and the important “Egg Toss” (hopefully we can at least hear an anecdote from Normal Girl on this marquee event). Fortunately, we arrive in plenty of time for the marching band from The Ohio State University and a performance from Time Machine, a classic rock band from Circleville.

Friday, I absolutely can't miss Ukulele Man and His Prodigal Sons, for their band name alone. The Pet Parade might make the itinerary, too… We might have to debate that. I’m most looking forward to the football game that night.

Saturday, we should be around for the Pie Eating Contest, but we will be on an airplane to Baltimore by the time the Hog Calling Contest begins, rendering moot the hours of practice we’ve crammed into our weeknights.

In all seriousness, I am sincerely looking forward to next week's adventure. My hometown had no such grand festivals, and I think it's kind of cool. In six days, we’ll see if Circleville can deliver on the promise of its packed event calendar!

- Normal Guy