Camp Sunshine Ready for Annual Pumpkin Festival
Camp Sunshine invites all to the pummpkin fest October 4, 2008.
Camp Sunshine’s pumpkin festivals in Boston and New York City. These special pumpkins lit up the night for all to see, and added an emotional touch to each event.
Glow Hearts are $10 each and can be ordered through Camp Sunshine’s website. Shortly after the festivals a photo of the Pumpkin Towers filled with Glow Heart will be posted on Camp Sunshine’s website with a link to the site emailed to donors.
“While the pumpkin festival and its world record attempt are meant to be fun and attract attention, seeing a 40-foot tall scaffolding tower full of Glow Heart Pumpkins adds emotional perspective, reminding people of the true purpose of these events, which is to raise money and awareness for Camp Sunshine, and to celebrate life,” said Matt Hoidal, Executive Director of Camp Sunshine.
The festival, which will take place at Cumberland County Fairgrounds, is expected to draw over 50,000 people, and includes a world record attempt for the most lit jack-o-lanterns in one place at one time. In addition to an estimated more than 30,000 jack-o-lanterns, there will be live music, magic shows, a costume parade, a whoopie pie-eating contest, face painting, great food and of course lots of pumpkin carving.
Because this is a world record attempt, attendees are strongly encouraged to bring carved pumpkins and votive candles to the event as well as carving on site. Truckloads and car loads are welcomed. The event will start at Noon and will end at 8 pm. Price: Free Admission / $5 Carload for Parking. All proceeds will benefit Camp Sunshine.
Since its inception in 1984, Camp Sunshine has offered children with life threatening illnesses and their families a place to relax together for a week, and to take a break from the extraordinary demands placed on them on a daily basis. The year-round program is free of charge and staffed almost entirely by volunteers. It has the distinction of being the only program in the nation whose mission is to address the impact of a life threatening illness on every member of the immediate family—the ill child, the parents, and the siblings. Since its inception, Camp Sunshine has provided a haven for over 23,000 individuals from diverse cultural backgrounds. In addition to providing 24-hour onsite medical and psychosocial support the camp offers a variety of daily activities ranging from swimming and boating to archery and soccer and special events such as bonfires and cookouts.
To learn more about Camp Sunshine or to purchase Glow Heart Pumpkins please call 207-655-3800 or visit www.campsunshine.org.
Views expressed in blogs are the opinions of the authors and do not necessarily reflect either Down East's editorial stance or the views of Down East Enterprise. We ask that comments be civil; anyone who refuses to self edit runs the risk of being banned from commenting on Down East.com content.