Stratford's Great Pumpkin Festival Canceled Due To Coronavirus

STRATFORD, CT — Stratford's annual Great Pumpkin Festival has been canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic. A virtual pumpkin carving contest is being planned to keep the Halloween spirit alive in town.

The in-person event was originally scheduled for Oct. 17 at Boothe Memorial Park.

“The decision to cancel this year’s Great Pumpkin Festival was made with thoughtful consideration," Councilman Jim Connor, who chairs the Boothe Park Commission, said in a town news release. "Keeping Stratford families, our commission members and volunteers safe is of utmost importance. We look forward to holding a great event, better than ever, next year.”

The Great Pumpkin Festival, which is hosted by the commission, traditionally includes horse-drawn hay rides, bounce houses, a roaming train ride and access to Boothe Memorial Park historic exhibits.

"Unfortunately these popular attractions are considered high-risk by the Center for Disease Control (CDC), making social distancing nearly impossible," the news release said.

Boothe Park Commission members voiced apprehension about volunteering at the event due to underlying health issues and concern about contracting the coronavirus, according to the news release.

"Though canceling The Great Pumpkin Festival was not an easy decision to make, the Boothe Park Commission along with the representative members of the nonprofit organizations felt better to ere on the side of caution and not subject participants to activities that cannot comply with social distancing guidelines,” Mayor Laura Hoydick said in the news release.

The virtual contest, sponsored by Celebrate Stratford and Bridgeport Fittings, will be held on the Celebrate Stratford Facebook page. Participants are encouraged to share photographs of their creations on the page.

Judging categories will include most creative, spookiest, funniest and best in show. Winners will receive a gift card to a Stratford restaurant and recognition on the Celebrate Stratford Facebook page, as well as other town social media platforms.

Submissions must be uploaded by Oct. 28. Winners will be announced Oct. 30.

For more information, or to upload a submission, visit the Celebrate Stratford Facebook page at www.facebook.com/celebratestratford. People who are not on Facebook but would like to participate in the contest may email submissions to info@CelebrateStratford.com.

For more information about the CDC's stance on Halloween this year, visit www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/daily-life-coping/holidays.html#halloween.