Lea Kahn, Staff Writer
From pumpkin carving exhibits to a paint-a-pumpkin craft tent and evening story-telling events around a fire pit – complete with s’mores and cider – there will be something for everyone at the Hopewell Valley Arts Council’s third annual Amazing Pumpkin Carve.
The event begins Oct. 11 and runs through Oct. 15 at Woolsey Park (formerly Alliger Park) at 221 Washington Crossing-Pennington Road in the Titusville section of Hopewell Township.
“The Amazing Pumpkin Carve is a wonderful opportunity for the Hopewell Valley Arts Council to showcase the creativity and talent of our local artists and to celebrate with our families and our community,” said Carol Lipson, president of the arts council’s board of trustees.
“This years’ ‘Carve’ really is a community-wide celebration,” Lipson said.
This year, the arts council has joined hands with Hopewell Valley’s professional and volunteer firefighters to present Fire Safety Day and with the Hopewell Valley Historic Preservation Committee to rededicate Woolsey Park.
But the highlight of the ‘Carve’ is the display of 50 giant pumpkins, carved by 50 of the area’s best artists, in the pumpkin-viewing tent. Admission to the tent is $10 for adults, $5 for ages 11 to 18, and free for those under 10 years old.
The carved pumpkins will be auctioned off on Oct. 15, giving bidders a chance to own a one-of-a-kind temporary work of art. It is, after all, a carved pumpkin.
Also on display will be fall-themed photos taken by amateur and professional photographers, which the Hopewell Valley Arts Council hopes will become an annual event.
Activities and special events include evening story-telling around a fire pit, a “guess-the weight” giant pumpkin contest, a paint-a-pumpkin craft tent and a Hopewell Township history kiosk.
A dedication ceremony for the renaming of Alliger Park to Woolsey Park is set for 9 a.m. Oct. 14, followed by a salute to Hopewell Valley’s emergency responders – police, firefighters and emergency medical technicians.
The third annual Fire Safety Open House is set for 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., also on Oct. 14., and will feature fire trucks, safety demonstrations, a K-9 dog from the Trenton Police Department and a fire/arson K-9 dog from the state Department of Community Affairs’ Fire Safety Office.
The New Jersey State Police will stage a helicopter landing, and the firefighters will offer a walk-through fire safety house constructed of bales of hay.
The Amazing Pumpkin Carve is sponsored by the Hopewell Valley Arts Council. Ticket proceeds benefit the non-profit group and also go toward the artist-carvers’ honoraria.
For more information, visit www.hvartscouncil.org.
