Dinosaurs, witches new at Saturday's Pumpkin Palooza in Dundee.
DUNDEE – Dinosaurs, dancing witches, a movie and the Haunted Harvest Car Show are new at Dundee's Pumpkin Palooza and Great Pumpkin Weigh-off. The sixth annual event will be from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Oct. 7 at Wolverine Park, 242 Toledo St.
The family-friendly festival typically draws about 2,000 and is offered by Heart of Dundee and the Downtown Development Authority. Admission and most activities are free.
What's new this year?
New this year are moving dinosaurs from TAG Art Co. of Fort Wayne, Indiana. A raptor and T-rex named Violet and Reggie will walk around the park and also offer two half-hour shows.
“We will have dinosaur shows at noon and 1:30 p.m., plus trainers walking around with a couple baby dinos (Peanut and Kevin) before and after the dino shows,” DDA secretary and Pumpkin Palooza chairperson Mary Schultz said. “The dinos will be a new, fun draw this year.”
Another new event at Pumpkin Palooza will be the dancing witches from Lake Eerie Hexenburt.
“They will dance at 1 and 2 p.m., between the dino shows,” Schultz said.
Dundee Parks and Recreation will show the 1998 Disney movie “Halloweentown” in the banquet hall at noon and 4 p.m. It is rated TV-G. Attendees should bring a blanket or chair.
The new Haunted Harvest Car Show will be offered by The Apothecary Kitchen from 3 to 6 p.m. Registration is not required.
Axe throwing and the beer tent, both new attractions last year, are not returning.
What time is the pumpkin weigh off?
Weigh-in begins at 11 a.m. Giant pumpkins, gourds, sunflowers and squash will be weighed in the municipal parking lot on the north side of the River Raisin, 350 W. Monroe St. Last year’s heaviest pumpkin was 1,849 pounds. Ten prizes will be given for the heaviest pumpkins; they range from $3,000 to $50. There is no shuttle to the weigh-in this year.
What other events and activities are there?
Offered all day at Pumpkin Palooza will be a petting zoo, bounce houses, pony rides and a Kiwanis Kids Zone, which will include games. The first 500 children at the Kiwanis zone also can pick up a small bag and a coupon for a scoop of candy at the DDA Candy Stop Tent.
Also offered all day will be a vendor show with 100 vendors and crafters and four food trucks.
Free pumpkin carving will be offered from 10 a.m. until supplies last.
The Violin Monster will perform from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The High Calibre Band will perform classic songs from 3 to 5 p.m. Attendees should bring blankets or chairs for the performances.
Pumpkin Palooza shirts will be sold at the DDA booth. They were designed by Courtney Cole and printed by All Heart Athletics.
Students from Dundee High School's Community Arts program created a spooky scavenger hunt that is going on throughout the village.
“Our students have put together a scavenger hunt around Dundee. There are ghost sculptures all around town, and it's your job to follow the clues and find them all. On each ghost, you can collect the letter to find the secret message and read the clue leading to the next ghost. At the end there will be a QR code you can scan to be entered into our Halloween raffle," DHS said.
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A look back
Dundee's Pumpkin Palooza and Great Pumpkin Weigh-off originated 24 years ago at the Harnica Kids Pumpkin Farm, which held an annual pumpkin weigh-off.
The Downtown Development Authority took over the event when John Harnica retired six years ago. At first, Pumpkin Palooza was simply a pumpkin weighing event, but it’s grown into a fall festival with vendors, food, fall activities and children’s events.
This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: Dinosaurs, witches new at Pumpkin Palooza Oct. 7 in Dundee
