PHOTOS: Picturesque Pumpkin Parade lights up Port Hope

Thirteen-year-old Bohdan Radchenko from Port Hope wrestles to help with a large pumpkin during the Critical Mass parade Sunday. /Tim Burgess photos

By editor/reporter Sarah Hyatt

Port Hope capped off the spooky season in style with the picturesque eighth edition of the Critical Mass Pumpkin Parade last Sunday.

The annual parade offers people a chance to show their creativity and let their jack-o-lanterns shine one last time the day after Halloween and lights up Lent Lane in downtown Port Hope.

“It’s a whimsical annual event that wraps up spooky season with a showcase of community creativity in an outdoor gallery-like setting,” Debbie Beattie, with Critical Mass, told the Independent.

Six-year-old Maeve Kent from Orono checked out the pumpkins before she settled on this one as her favorite. Maeve and her family moved from Port Hope but still come back to see the Pumpkin Parade.

Beattie said the total pumpkin count was about 548, with these creations lighting the way from the Little Station House down Lent Lane and almost to Walton Street. The event is also popular for people wanting to take photos during pumpkin viewing and setup, and as the pumpkins are all later lit with a tea light or LED candle.

Critical Mass volunteer Alex Kirkham checks out one of the pumpkins before placing it in a large row for the jack-o-lanterns display.

“Turnout to view the pumpkins was about 1,500 people,” she added.

This year’s event was again made possible through volunteer efforts and brought together several community partners, including the Municipality of Port Hope, Harnden Haulage and Excavation, Hope Community Church, and the Port Hope Panthers.

Yearly, Harnden Haulage also provides a bin and helps take pumpkins away after the parade to feed animals at area farms and handles composting, with the municipality co-ordinating all this, explained Beattie.

Youth Port Hope Coun. Leah Ferguson lights candles inside pumpkins for Critical Mass’ Pumpkin Parade on Sunday, Nov. 1.

Meanwhile, the church chips in with free hot chocolate for attendees to enjoy during the jack-o-lantern display, and rallies volunteers to help hoist pumpkins from cars to Lent Lane, as well as co-ordinates with the Panthers to have players come and help with some of the heavy lifting.

Any pay-what-you-can donations collected during the event help Critical Mass continue its efforts to ensure the arts and related programming are accessible locally.

Critical Mass: A Centre for Contemporary Art is described as a Port Hope-based not-for-profit arts organization, which is led by a volunteer group of curators, artists and art supporters who are dedicated to bringing contemporary art experiences to the community.

Pastor Ben Mills with the Hope Community Church helps move pumpkins into position along Lent Lane.

Be sure to pick up the Nov. 6 edition of the West Northumberland Independent for more photos.