Family Pumpkin Festival Returns To FishHawk, October 10

By Michelle Caceres

Park Square will be awash in a sea of orange as the annual Life is Good Pumpkin Festival rolls to FishHawk Ranch on Saturday, October 10.The festivities will begin at 3 p.m., when the young and the young at heart will strut their stuff in a costume parade. Prizes will be awarded for the cutest, scariest and most creative costumes.For a $5 donation, pumpkins can be carved beginning the morning of the event at 9 a.m. in the parking lot at Park Square. The lighting ceremony will be held at 8 p.m.Tasty food and drinks will be available for purchase. Face painting, tattoos, a soda walk and hay rides are just a few of the activities that will be offered in the afternoon. The band, Blast, will show off its musical abilities from 7:30 – 10 p.m.Come out and cheer on your favorite backyard athlete at the World’s Greatest Backyard Athlete Competition. So far, more than 16 athletes have signed up to compete in events such as the disc toss, pumpkin seed spitting and an obstacle course. Competitors also raise money for charity. The winner is the athlete that raises the most money. Top male and female winners are also recognized.“The winner earns bragging rights as this year’s FishHawk Ranch’s World’s Greatest Backyard Athlete,” says FishHawk Ranch Marketing Coordinator Lynda McMorrow.Coldwell Banker realtor Anita Vlass earned bragging rights last year, raising more than $2,500.Rob Revoy, vice president of sales and marketing for Cardel Homes, hopes to earn the top spot this year.“We’re always happy to help out worthy causes,” says Revoy, “but I’ll be even happier if I win.”All proceeds from the event will be donated to the Life is Good Kids Foundation, which will share the proceeds evenly with two local charities that help children and families, Project Joy and HomeAid Tampa Bay.“It’s the hope of Newland Communities that through these festivals we not only can bring communities together for a special day of fun but can also raise funds to help those less fortunate,” says FishHawk Ranch Marketing Manager Dawn Turner.For more information about the Life is Good Pumpkin Festival, visit www.thepumpkinsarecoming.com or call 685-7500.