Schedule of Events at Pumpkinfest 2009
The full schedule of events and contests will be posted here as it becomes available:
Friday
4:30 - 7 pm, Pumpkinfest Picnic
United Presbyterian Church parking lot on Central Ave. For less than $5 per person you can enjoy our Pumpkinfest Picnic consisting of hot dogs (chili) or hamburg (cheese), a beverage and dessert.
Saturday
7 - 11 am, Loaves and Fishes Pancake Breakfast
Grace Episcopal Church, 14 Court Street (near Fire Department, half block from Pumpkinfest). Benefiting Cortland Loaves and Fishes...Come help us feed the hungry! Donation $15.00/family, $5.00 Adult and $3.00 for 8 yrs & under.
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. $15 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!
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 noon, Pumpkin Baking Contest
Do you bake an AWESOME Pumpkin Pie, bread, or other 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 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.
12:30 - 2 pm, Ithaca Dixieland Band
The Ithaca New Orleans Dixieland Band plays a variety of Dixieland music including music made famous by Louis Armstrong, Pete Fountain, King Oliver and more. The band has a combined musical history of hundreds of years of individual playing experience in a wide variety of musical styles and these seasoned players have come together as the Ithaca New Orleans Dixieland Band to offer Dixieland music, some of the Happiest Music on the planet. For more information visit Ithaca Dixieland web site.
1:30 - 5:30 pm, Micro Brew Tasting
Tickets for the Brew Tasting are $25 in advance and $30 at the door. Tickets are available at the Dark Horse Tavern, Hairy Tony's Pub & Fare, Mando Books, Quick Stop Beverage and Groton Ave. Liquor. (Limit of 400 tickets to be sold.) Food will be available: hot dogs, sausage w/ onions and peppers and pulled pork sandwiches. Relax and enjoy the sounds of Professor Unland's German Om-Pa-Pa Band!
2 - 3 pm, The Catskill Puppet Theatre
Presenting "The Lions Whiskers." 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, Ageless Jazz Band
The Ageless Jazz Band is a popular dance band featuring music ranging from classic swing to Latin jazz with a sophisticated, lively style. The band includes a full compliment of saxophones, trumpets, and trombones, a swinging rhythm section and sizzling vocals. Performing the legendary tunes of Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Glenn Miller and other giants of Big Band Jazz, their music is timeless and loved by dancers and music lovers of all ages.
For the last ten years, the Ageless Jazz Band has been entertaining jazz fans from all over the world on the Caribbean island of Aruba. They've been featured on radio shows, in newspaper and magazine articles, and on the CBS This Morning program! For more information visit the Ageless Jazz Band web site.
Sunday
11:30 - 4:30, Spin In
Spinners, knitters,crocheters, fiber lovers of all kinds, come Knit, Spin and chat under our tent! For more information call Vickie at 423-9189.
1 - 2:30 pm, The Stoutmen
The Stoutmen are an Irish folk quartet in the Binghamton area of upstate NY. Their strong, straightforward singing of traditional songs in the style of the Clancy Brothers & Tommy Makem, Dubliners, and Wolfe Tones is a great fit for the festival. With a great mix of powerful rebel songs, jovial drinking songs, toe-tapping reels and beautiful Irish ballads, The Stoutmen portray Ireland’s past and present in vocal harmony and colorful arrangements. For more information visit the Stoutmen 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 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.
All Day, Alpacas (Tent by the Fountain)
