Pumpkin Festival in Central Park

New York City Parks & Recreation and Camp Sunshine are proud to announce the 2008 Central Park Pumpkin Festival.  This annual event will take place on Saturday, October 25, 2008 from 3-8 p.m. and all proceeds from the event will benefit Camp Sunshine, a national retreat for children with life-threatening illnesses and their family.

This year's Pumpkin Festival is gearing up to be the best yet, with exciting activities for all ages, including:

• Scarecrow Design Competition - Bethesda Fountain
  To celebrate the spirit of Halloween and creative expression, the Parks Department is hosting its first citywide scarecrow competition.  Open to all NYC elementary and middle schools, Parks will award first, second, and third place prizes to the best scarecrow designs. Click here to learn more!
  


• Spooktacular Haunted House - Bethesda Terrace Arcade
  Designed by the same company that runs the popular annual haunted house in the Lower East Side, our haunted house will take you through six different rooms that feature bone-chilling zombies and other spooky surprises! Get a sneak peak of our Haunted House on Friday, October 24 from 5:00-7:00 p.m.!


• Jack O' Lantern Tower - Bandshell 
  Due to popular demand, we are bringing back our 20-foot tall Jack o’ Lantern Tower in the Bandshell area!  Our lighting ceremony will take place at 5:30pm, just as the sun is beginning to set…


• Pumpkin Patch - Cherry Hill
  Don’t forget to stop by the Pumpkin Patch to let your kids pick out their very own pumpkin!  We will also have a photo booth on site so wear your Halloween best!
  


• Live music and other entertainment - Bandshell
  Our entertainment schedules is PACKED with exciting performers for all ages, including Big Apple Circus, Laughing Pizza, Derek James, Evan Michaels, and a fire eater!
  - Big Apple Circus' Anna Jack and her Amazing Poodles - 3:30 p.m.
  - Don't miss the only NYC live performance by Laughing Pizza - 4:00 p.m.


• Hayrides - 72nd Street Transverse
  Perfect for young children, our hayride will start at the bottom of Cherry Hill and will continue along the 72^nd Street Transverse giving kids a wonderful view of the scarecrows to the North and the Jack o’ Lantern Tower to the South.