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Barnesville Pumpkin Festival is a Homecoming for Locals

Photo by Drew Parker
Emily Gorman walks golden retriever puppy, Misty, in the
Barnesville Giant Pumpkin Parade on Saturday.

BARNESVILLE — Every September, Belmont County residents, visitors and returning travelers find a slice of home at the annual Barnesville Pumpkin Festival, the village’s fall celebration.

Festival organizers hosted the Giant Pumpkin Parade at 2 p.m. Saturday, entertaining visitors with music, appearances from emergency personnel and event pumpkin-clad puppies.

Pumpkin trophies are awarded to Best Float, Best Group, Best Horse and Rider, Best Horse Drawn, Best Royalty, Best Tractor, Best Pumpkin Theme, Best Car and Most Unique.

The Pumpkin Run 5K also began at 8:30 a.m. Saturday with over 600 participants. Run winners included Cedric Robinson, finishing at 16:25, and Felicity Smith, finishing at 20:45. Walk winners included Gary Bennett, finishing at 27:03, and Lauren Ritz, finishing at 29:45.

Jeffrey VanHorn, who heads the Pumpkin Patch craft area inside the Barnesville Elementary School gym, said the festival brings residents of all ages and background’s to the city’s Main Street.

“We get so many people coming through here, especially once the parade is over, you can hardly get through. People love the craft show,” he said. “The festival is so warm and welcome.”

Candace Fleagane, a Barnesville native and Belmont County Cat Stray Shun founder, hosted a booth at the Pumpkin Patch for her cause. She said the festival is crucial to Barnesville residents.

“It’s like a homecoming for everybody,” Fleagane said, “People who live out of town can plan family reunions and see old friends. It also brings in a lot of revenue for the town.”

The festival will end today with performances from Bill Hinson, Cabin Boys, a fiddle, banjo and mandolin contest and square dancing. Activities will end for the year at 5 p.m. with an auction of all unclaimed pumpkins, squash, gourds, vegetables and fruit from display tables. A raffle for the seventh annual pumpkin crock will also be held before the festival’s close.

Festival President Jim Rockwell said “sale” of the annual King Pumpkin sale will allow for local businesses and sponsors to bid for the change to display the year’s winner outside of their business. After the display period, the festival board will collect seeds from the winner. Saturday, 20 Barnesville businesses united to purchase the giant pumpkin for $5,000. It will be displayed at each of the businesses based on interest during the year. Rockwell added last year’s King Pumpkin sold for over $9,000.

“We’re a nonprofit organization and the street fair doesn’t cost you anything. People can enjoy the festival without spending a dime, so we rely on local businesses to help support us and put this on, which costs several dollars,” Rockwell said. “There are people who come home for the festival who don’t get to come home for Christmas. It’s the last local fair of the season around here, so it has a good turn out. It’s a family oriented festival that’s a whole lot of fun for the young and old alike.

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