OSWEGO – This weekend the Oswego YMCA will host the annual CNY Pumpkin Festival, organizing the event for the second time in its long history.
Located in Washing Square Park, October 2 and 3 marks the long-anticipated return of the festival after the 2020 one was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic and will showcase a variety of fall fun. Some of the activities include rides from Ontario Amusements, scarecrow building competitions, old style games from the Fort of Ontario and a wide selection of vendors and crafts.
One iconic staple that will not be part of the fun is the giant pumpkins and the associated “Great Pumpkin Weigh-In.” This is due to the unusually wet growing season in Central New York, according to the YMCA’s Interim Executive Director Cheryl Baldwin. Although the pumpkins are not quite ready, there are still plenty of vendors who signed up.
“It all ended up coming together, and as things got closer, people really started to sign on and participate,” Baldwin said. “I think everyone just [wants] to get outside and do something outside before the winter hits.”
In addition to the local vendors that Baldwin mentioned, she added that there was a focus on homemade goods that people can sell at the CNY Pumpkin Festival, a way to involve the community and allow it to make something special.
The event itself is special as well after everything people have been through over the last stretch of time since the pandemic began in 2020. As a result, Baldwin wanted to offer some normalcy to the community and a way for the YMCA to contribute to its mission of providing for families.
“With everything we are coming off of, being able to provide something for the kids to do and an outlet for families to get outdoors … has been wonderful,” said Baldwin. “I think it’s a great thing for us to be able to provide since typically being a YMCA we are all about families, their health and well-being and anything we can do to help them.”
Prior to 2019 the Greater Oswego-Fulton Chamber of Commerce organized the autumn staple but was still involved in preparing for this one.
“We had a committee this year and a lot of the members that were on the committee this year were there prior to 2019 and years past,” said Baldwin. “It was nice to have them back in play and have them assist us this year.”
The committee and organizers spanned across various local entities in the county. Beyond the YMCA, the Greater Oswego-Fulton Chamber of Commerce helped put it together and features activities from the Children’s Museum of Oswego and the Youth Bureau of Oswego County. Ultimately, the goal for all of the organizations was to come together to bring joy to the Oswego community, specifically for families.
“It’s about more than pumpkins. It’s about everyone … to be able to put this on for families,” said Baldwin. “[It was] a great collaboration of organizations that are local.”
CNY Pumpkin Festival schedule:
Saturday, October 2
- 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.: Marketplace, bounce houses, pony rides, games & activities, Ontario Amusement Rides, corn maze, food vendors, and create a pumpkin face (or until sold out.)
- noon to 3 p.m.: Build a scarecrow (or until sold out.)
- noon to 2 p.m.: Live music – The DeSantis Orchestra
- 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.: Live music – The Love Volcanoes
Sunday, October 3
- 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.: Marketplace, bounce houses, pony rides, games & activities, Ontario Amusement Rides, corn maze, food vendors, and create a pumpkin face (or until sold out.)
- noon to 3 p.m.: Build a scarecrow (or until sold out.)
- noon to 2 p.m.: Live music – Mike Shiel
- 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.: Live music – New York Relics
