Waterford’s the place to be for Pumpkinfest
Brenda Moser
Advocate Contributor
Waterford is a relatively small, rural community that welcomes visitors all year round to their country location, but one October weekend (the weekend after Thanksgiving) every year it is THE place to be.
Waterford Pumpkinfest was created by Jean Kerr and is now put on by the Waterford Lions. It has been attracting thousands to our town for 44 years now and each year the crowds seem to get bigger. It’s safe to say that this year was one of the best.
Not always the warmest of weather, with being in October, doesn’t seem to stop people. This year, Oct. 16-18, was no exception thanks to the co-operation of Mother Nature. Friday night saw hundreds of vehicles roll into town early to check out the lighted Pumpkin Pyramids and decorated homes and businesses, and get a prime location to observe the fireworks. What a display it was! Year after year they deliver perhaps the best show around.
There was no shortage of things to do and see on the Saturday and Sunday as well with one of the town’s biggest attractions being the Annual Pumpkinfest Parade.
While many checked out the Marketplace inside at WDHS, others watched the annual football game outside. Unfortunately, the Waterford Wolves fell 14-7 to the undefeated McKinnon Park Blue Devils from Caledonia, but there’s always next year Wolves!
Sunday, the football field took on a whole new look as the popular Pumpkinfest Car Show took over the field and even some of the ball diamonds. Lion Al Nutbrown said, “Cars were lining up shortly after 6 a.m. to get in to the show. By 8 a.m. there were over 500 cars registered. When the weather is nice it’s always a good show.”
Various prizes were handed out with about 100 door prizes - donated mostly by local businesses in Simcoe, Waterford and Scotland. Nutbrown said the Lions appreciate each and every donation made. It took a while – actually quite a while - to stroll the rows and rows of vehicles and they were still loading in when I left. Congratulations on another great Car Show.
The arena parking lot on Church Street offered a variety of food selections while enjoying local talent on the entertainment stage. I have to admit that I always stop for an Elephant Ear and look forward to one every year. After all, you have to indulge yourself every once in a while.
St. James Street hill was, once again, the sight of the annual Soap Box Derby on Sunday - a fun and exciting event for kids and adults alike. A lot of work goes in to designing and building the cars.
Each race heat was a nailbiter right down to the final race. There were awards for the Junior Division, Senior Division, Best Decorated/Dressed, and Honourable Mentions. Spectators enjoyed watching the kids and you could tell the kids were having a blast. Look out Mario Andretti!
Congratulations to all of the winners! A list of winners can be found on the Waterford Pumpkinfest site. Check them out.
There was certainly lots to see and do at this year’s event and Mother Nature co-operated fully to give us some lovely fall weather and NO RAIN! We are fortunate to have a great Lions Club in Waterford taking on the task of bringing us Pumpkinfest. Hats off to each and every one of them! Thanks for all that you do for Waterford and community.
Sponsors are also an important part of helping to make Pumpkinfest a great event every year. A list of the 2026 sponsors can be found on their website www.pumpkinfest.com.
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