Family fun planned for Orient Pumpkin Days

A committee tasked with planning Pumpkin Days is excited to welcome large crowds to Orient Aug. 23-24 for their annual town festival.

Not only are there old favorites within the Pumpkin Days schedule, there are a few new items this year.

“We’re trying to keep growing it,” said committee member Mitch Pashek.

New items on the schedule include a pet show and a kids bubble gum blowing contest. New last year were the baby contest and a veterans quilt presentation, and both of those events will return this year. The baby contest will carry a Disney theme.

Highlights of the Friday portion of the schedule are a 5K run and 1-mile walk at 6 p.m. The Orient-Macksburg FFA chapter will have a bags tournament on the slab at 7 p.m. Steven Bankey and the Flatland Band will entertain 7-10 p.m.

Saturday morning, the firefighters will serve breakfast beginning at 7 a.m. The Orient Women’s Club will have their volleyball tournament starting at 8 a.m. and a vendor fair will happen uptown starting at 10 a.m. The day continues with the chicken noodle dinner at Orient Plymouth Congregational Church at 11 a.m.

Saturday afternoon is a dunk tank, car show and shine, youth pedal pull and cow pie bingo. Winners of the pedal pull will receive a new bike.

The parade is at 4 p.m., traveling W Everett Street, Poplar Street, 1st Street and Sprague Street.

Following the parade is a baked goods auction, Orient United Methodist Church barbecue dinner, beer garden and Michael Shaun Brown performing 8 p.m.-midnight. Top Notch Fireworks will help cap the festival with a fireworks show at 9 p.m.

Throughout Pumpkin Days, Scott Amusements will have a carnival. Advance tickets are now available.

Various contests and events within the Pumpkin Days schedule have specific contact information for registration, which may be found on the Orient Pumpkin Days Facebook page.

“There’s a lot of work to be done [to plan Pumpkin Days]. Some of it is like picking up trash, but the fun part is talking to those who are playing volleyball. I help at the pedal pull, so for me, it’s helping the kids get a few inches farther to help them win,” Pashek said. “Those are the things we enjoy most.”