COVID cancels 39th annual Pumpkin Festival

Jennifer Moonsong

Central Division

General Manager

Jobe Publishing, Inc.

Last Thursday the Edmonton-Metcalfe Chamber of commerce made the wearily anticipated announcement that the Pumpkin Festival set for the first weekend of October is canceled.

“After much consideration and with a heavy heart, due to the current pandemic, the Edmonton Metcalfe County Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors has canceled the 2020 Metcalfe County Pumpkin Festival,” said Gaye Shaw.

This would have been the 39th annual festival.

“The decision to cancel the 2020 Pumpkin Festival did not come easy for any of our board members. In fact, we held out hope longer than many local festivals that conditions surrounding the pandemic would improve. Unfortunately, they have not, and the number of new COVID-19 cases continues to climb. The health and safety of our vendors and visitors is always our number one priority,” said Chamber President, Torrie Osbon.

The loss of the Pumpkin Festival this year will pull at both the heartstrings and pursestrings of Metcalfe County, as this is the county’s biggest festival.

“The Pumpkin Festival is a favorite fall tradition, not only in Metcalfe County but for residents in surrounding counties. The community looks forward to it every year. It is also the primary fundraiser for the Edmonton-Metcalfe Chamber of Commerce. Our organization, like so many others, has taken a financial hit this year. Earlier this year, we were informed the Metcalfe County Fiscal Court would cut its funding for the chamber by half. Canceling the Pumpkin Festival will be a major economic blow for the chamber,” explained Osbon.

All prepaid vendors will have their booth fees returned by the chamber.

Anyone seeking additional information may visit the chamber’s Facebook page.

“I am heartbroken that we have to cancel this year, but it is the right decision. Thank you to everyone who supports the Pumpkin Festival and the Edmonton-Metcalfe Chamber of Commerce. We pray that we can return in 2021 bigger and better than ever,” Osbon added.