By KENNEDY GRIFFIN
(Turners Falls, MA) The Great Falls Festival, or Pumpkinfest as it was first known, will be holding its twelfth and final annual event on October 22nd on Avenue A in Turners Falls. Since 2010, the Pumpkinfest has brought together the community, local businesses, and performers. Organizers hope this year’s will be the biggest yet as the community says farewell to what has become a local tradition.
The announcement to end the festival was made Thursday afternoon by Michael Nelson who wrote;
“Over the past twelve years we have had an amazing time hosting an incredible festival for our community. We are so proud of all of the fun and excitement we’ve brought to Turners Falls since 2010. An event of this magnitude however takes an unfathomable amount of planning and execution and my team of volunteers is beyond exhausted.
We share our deepest gratitude to you all for joining us over all these years and look forward to an incredible final blockbuster event on October 22, 2022.”
Another founding organizer of the event, Scott Kuzmeskus, spoke to Franklin County Now about the difficult decision to end the event. Kuzmeskus, who arrives every year on the day of the event while it’s still dark outside, said it’s “hard to let go” of something the organizers and volunteers put so much time and love into. “We’re not done giving back to the community.”
In what promises to be a real treat of a bittersweet finale, Toronto band “James Blonde” will be playing at 6:15 p.m. on Scotty’s Stage in Peske Park. For the full list of activities, performers, and vendors at this final event, visit The Great Falls Festival aka Pumpkinfest Facebook Page @greatfallsfestival.