Schedule of Events at Pumpkinfest 2011
The full schedule of events and contests will be posted here as it becomes available:
Friday, September 30
4:30 - 7 pm, Pumpkinfest Pancake Supper
United Presbyterian Church, 25 Church St (next to Courthouse Park).
Saturday, October 1
9 am, Pumpkin 5k Run, 5k Walk, 1 mile Fun Run
Across from the City Fire Station, 21 Court Street, Cortland. The Fidelis 6 pack race series seeks to encourage healthier life styles and greater family wellness, and to promote recreational running as a healthy choice. Your participation enables the Cortland YMCA, and its collaborators, the means to support many services and programs that deliver healthier lifestyles to the greater Cortland Community! You can win 100s of dollars of prizes such as running gear! For more information call the Cortland YMCA at (607) 756-2893 or e-mail ymca@cortlandymca.org. Stay after to enjoy crafts, sights and fine foods at the Pumpkinfest. Port-a-johns located in the park at the Pumpkinfest, showers available at the YMCA after the race. Download application now. $17 early registration/$20 race day registration. For 13 & under, $12 early registration/$15 race day registration. Free t-shirts given to the first 75 registrants! Download map.
11 am, Pumpkin Decorating Contest
Decorate your pumpkin (real or hand-made) to resemble your favorite character from books, films or TV. Decorate your pumpkin with your class at school, with your club, with your family, with a friend or on your own.
Enter the contest as a Kindergarten-2nd grader, 3rd or 4th grader, 5th or 6th grader, or as a group
Win a Prize: First Place - $30, Second Place - $20, Third Place - $10
Judging at 11 am, winners announced at 1 pm.
Download Pumpkin Decorating Registration Form
11 am - 12 noon, Mohawk Valley Frasers Pipe Band
The Mohawk Valley Frasers march all over New York State, for festivals, graduations, Highland games, parades and other events. For more information visit the Mohawk Valley Frasers web site.
12:30 - 2 pm, Steve Southworth & the Rockabilly Rays
Steve Southworth and The Rockabilly Rays are the ultimate tribute band focused exclusively on the recording artists of the 1950’s and early 1960’s. The band faithfully reproduces original compositions, arrangements, tempo, and sounds of the Rockabilly Rhythm & Blues and Rock & Roll treasure trove of tunes.
With an arsenal of over 100 songs (and growing) it is quite possible to experience a live performance from Steve Southworth and The Rockabilly Rays and never hear one song repeated.
Steve Southworth and The Rockabilly Rays respect the original versions of the songs they perform. Interpreting the songs into an experience of top shelf presentation and show…”these guys are specialists”. Steve Southworth and The Rockabilly Rays openly recognize, acknowledge, and greatly appreciate their fans and listening audiences. For without these fine people, the band would not exist. The band has been together since March, 1986.
For more information visit Steve Southworth & the Rockabilly Rays web site.
1:00 - 5:00 pm, Brew Tasting
Tickets for the Brew Tasting are $25 in advance and $30 at the door. Food will be available. Relax and enjoy the sounds of live music by Lucey's Hooch!
Advanced tickets can be purchased at Groton Ave. Liquors, Quick Stop Beverage, Mando Books, Dark Horse Tavern, and Hairy Tony's Pub & Fare.
2 - 3 pm, The Catskill Puppet Theatre
Presenting "Hiawatha." Their full sets, colorful scenery and large, beautiful puppets transform even the simplest environment into a fantasy world rich with wonder and excitement! For more information visit the Catskill Puppet Theatre web site.
3 - 4:30 pm, The Old Timers Band
The Cortland Old Timers Band, under the direction of Donna Yacavone, is in its 42nd year of concert performances in Central New York. Organized in 1967 by John Discenza and Phil Natoli, the band continues to attract both young and seasoned musicians from the Cortland area, an area that abounds with musical talent and generations of community-band heritage.
The Old Timers Band traces its heritage back over 150 years, when military and industrial bands were popular in the Cortland area, with its predecessor taking shape in 1911 as the Mascagni Italian Band, organized by Frank Crisara. Then, performing for several years at the St Anthony’s Band (1925-34) and the Cortland Civic Band (1936-54), the musicians found a special appeal in the Italian community and its La Festa celebrations.
Today, the band boasts over 60 volunteer members, ranging in age from 16 to 87, who strive to enrich the Cortland community, and future generations, with their passion for big-band performances. Their concert selections include traditional marches, overtures, patriotic songs, popular Broadway hits and folk music.
Sunday, October 2
12 noon, Autumn Harvest and Pumpkin Pie Baking Contests
Do you bake an AWESOME pumpkin pie, bread, or other autumn harvest baked goods? Entries will be accepted from 11 am until 12 noon at the Rotary Tent. Judging will begin promptly at 12:30 with winners announced directly after.
Download Autumn Harvest Baking Contest Rules and Registration.
Download Pumpkin Pie Baking Contest Rules and Registration.
For more information, contact Cornell Cooperative Extension of Cortland County at 753-5077. Contest is sponsored by Cornell Cooperative Extension of Cortland County and First Niagara Bank.
1 - 2:30 pm, DixieKats
The "DixieKats" are a concert, show and dance band who play a variety of traditional Dixieland and Bayou Gumbo. The band plays music made famous by Louis Armstrong, Pete Fountain, King Oliver and more recently, Dr. John, Randy Newman and the Neville Brothers.
The band has a combined musical history of hundreds of years of individual playing experience in a wide variety of musical styles.
These seasoned players have come together as the DixieKats to offer Dixieland music, some of the Happiest Music on the planet.
For more information visit DixieKats web site.
2 pm, Largest Pumpkin Weigh-Off
Pumpkins should arrive between 9 am and noon in the Cortland County Convention and Visitors Bureau parking lot behind the antique tractors. Judging will be at 2 pm in four categories: largest pumpkin, best color, best shape and most unique. Awards will be given at 2:30 in 3 different age groups, age 4-11, age 12-18 and age 19+. Top three winners in each age group will receive a ribbon and all participants will receive a ribbon for entering.
3 - 4:30 pm, The JazzHappensBand
Formed in 2005, The JazzHappensBand is a traditional Dixieland jazz band operating out of Cortland, New York with a repertoire of Dixie, blues, and quick stepping jazz. Leader Jeff Dovi explains: "I like to keep the music as true to a Dixie beat as possible, but we do throw in some rhythm and blues and some specialty numbers for the entertainment value they offer. I really think that Dixieland music is the happiest, toe-tapping and good-times music going; tunes that you can go home whistling!" For more information visit JazzHappensBand web site.
