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The Collector Village Pumpkin Festival will offer traditional family fun and lots of free activities for everyone.
It has grown into one of the largest one-day community events in the country; run by volunteers with all profits returned to the community.
It has become famous for its wonderful food, great entertainment, amazing market stalls and of course, all things pumpkin great and small.
“You just can’t beat pumpkin soup and pumpkin scones on a crisp autumn day in Collector,” says event coordinator Gary Poile.
“Each year we introduce new events and activities... but that wonderful aroma of home grown pumpkins being cooked in so many different ways will always set our festival apart from the others.”
One of the new features for 2018 will be Pumpkin Joe’s Tiny Tots Pumpkin Patch. Children under 105cm tall will have fun on a free jumping castle and their very own mini hay bale maze to play in.
Face painting and balloon art will be available for a small fee and a display by the Collector 1st Scout Group will keep the little ones busy for hours.
The festival will also be paying tribute to the Chinese Year of the Dog. A sheep handling demonstration will be conducted by Downunder Working Dogs and the Sydney Search Dogs will be demonstrating simulated search and rescue routines.
There is also a wide variety of things to do. You can start by rolling a pumpkin to win a prize, or climb aboard an original Cobb & Co Coach for a free ride around the local sports ground. Try the free rock climbing wall, find your way through the giant hay bale maze or take on the Pumpkin Pump Challenge at the Active Farmers fitness site.
Enjoy a variety of pumpkin board games, build a scarecrow using pumpkins and straw, have a free pony ride, or visit the free farm animal petting paddock.
Stroll through the historic stone-built churches in Collector to find exhibitions of treasured quilts and a wealth of local information and historical publications.
The main attraction is the giant pumpkin competition. Named in honour of one of the festival’s original stalwarts, the Joe Medway Memorial Pumpkin Competition attracts entrants from all over.
Other popular exhibits have decorated, carved and unusual pumpkins as well as pumpkin cooking and baking, including the very prestigious Kathleen Webster Memorial Pumpkin Scone Competition.
With Mother’s Day just around the corner, peruse a very wide range of homemade and unique gifts.
Another special highlight of the festival is the entertainment schedule. The festival starts with a traditional march past by the Goulburn Soldiers Pipes and Drums Band at 10am, followed by a performance by the children from the Collector Public School.
The entertainment then continues with two stages offering live performances all day. Visitors to the festival are also guaranteed to have their taste buds tantalised by treats like pumpkin scones, pumpkin pies, pumpkin soup, gourmet pumpkin pizzas and even pumpkin ice cream.
You will also find traditional Aussie barbeques, food stalls with international flavours and freshly-ground coffee to temp the taste buds.
- Sunday May 6, 10am-4pm
- Full ATM facilities
- Plenty of car parking
- Entry: adult $10, senior $5, under-16s free