Pride Pumpkin Festival Pride Pumpkin Festival 20132013

East Longmeadow, MAEast Longmeadow, MA

Submitted by Deb AxtellSubmitted by Deb AxtellTickets for Groups, Inc.Tickets for Groups, Inc.

October 2012October 2012

OverviewOverview

Produce a Pride Pumpkin Festival in 2013 in the center Produce a Pride Pumpkin Festival in 2013 in the center of East Longmeadow, with the goal of establishing an of East Longmeadow, with the goal of establishing an annual autumn celebration that includes: dramatic annual autumn celebration that includes: dramatic display of carved & lit pumpkins, costume pageant, display of carved & lit pumpkins, costume pageant, crafts, retail exposure, live entertainment, and fireworks.crafts, retail exposure, live entertainment, and fireworks.

Generate exposure for primary sponsor, Pride Stores. Generate exposure for primary sponsor, Pride Stores. The event will showcase the company’s commitment to The event will showcase the company’s commitment to the community, build loyalty with existing customers, the community, build loyalty with existing customers, engage new customers, and sign up members for Pride engage new customers, and sign up members for Pride Rewards and Pride Savings card programs.Rewards and Pride Savings card programs.

Similar CelebrationsSimilar Celebrations

Some well-knownSome well-knownpumpkin celebrations:pumpkin celebrations:

Circleville Pumpkin Show, Circleville Pumpkin Show, Circleville, OH; Circleville, OH; www.pumpkinshow.com

Keene Pumpkin Festival, Keene Pumpkin Festival, Keene, NH; Keene, NH; www.pumpkinfestival.org

Milford Pumpkin Festival, Milford Pumpkin Festival, Milford, NH; Milford, NH; www.milfordpumpkinfestival.orgwww.milfordpumpkinfestival.org

The ExperienceThe Experience Carved pumpkins Carved pumpkins

are placed at street are placed at street level through the level through the festival floorscape festival floorscape (with small candles (with small candles inside)inside)

The ExperienceThe Experience

Not all pumpkins are Not all pumpkins are on turf; majority are on turf; majority are placed on picnic placed on picnic bench-style pumpkin bench-style pumpkin tables. These are tables. These are 2x4s and 2x6s 2x4s and 2x6s constructed for the constructed for the festival.festival.

Stored for annual use.Stored for annual use.

The ExperienceThe Experience

Not all pumpkins are Not all pumpkins are on turf; majority are on turf; majority are placed on picnic placed on picnic bench-style pumpkin bench-style pumpkin tables. These are tables. These are 2x4s and 2x6s 2x4s and 2x6s constructed for the constructed for the festival.festival.

Stored for annual use.Stored for annual use.

The ExperienceThe Experience

As twilight As twilight approaches, approaches, volunteer battalions volunteer battalions hit the streets with hit the streets with electronic lighters to electronic lighters to light the candles in light the candles in each pumpkineach pumpkin

The ExperienceThe Experience The focal point, is the The focal point, is the

Pumpkin TowerPumpkin Tower This is a 3- to 4-story This is a 3- to 4-story

construction, set off from construction, set off from the main walking area in the main walking area in it’s own roped off section. it’s own roped off section. As attendees enjoy the As attendees enjoy the lower level displays, lower level displays, retail, crafts, etc. retail, crafts, etc. ultimately they arrive at ultimately they arrive at the striking Pumpkin the striking Pumpkin Tower.Tower.

Tower Set UpTower Set Up

Backside of tower Backside of tower scaffoldingscaffolding

Tower Set UpTower Set Up

Backside of tower Backside of tower scaffoldingscaffolding

Tower Set UpTower Set Up

Backside of tower Backside of tower scaffoldingscaffolding

Closer up; Christmas Closer up; Christmas light holes visiblelight holes visible

Tower Set UpTower Set Up

Backside of tower Backside of tower scaffoldingscaffolding

Closer up; Christmas Closer up; Christmas light holes visiblelight holes visible

All lights feed into All lights feed into electrical box at base electrical box at base of towerof tower

Event BasicsEvent Basics

Pumpkin Carving. Multiple days for “Pumpkin Lobotomy” (cutting Pumpkin Carving. Multiple days for “Pumpkin Lobotomy” (cutting scene at local pumpkin farm).scene at local pumpkin farm).

The Festival is a single day celebration, with two prior days of set-up.The Festival is a single day celebration, with two prior days of set-up. The Festival Location: Meadows Shopping Center (retail, craft, live The Festival Location: Meadows Shopping Center (retail, craft, live

entertainment, pumpkins at street level), with Healthtrax parking entertainment, pumpkins at street level), with Healthtrax parking area, or, rotary baseball field for the Pumpkin Tower.area, or, rotary baseball field for the Pumpkin Tower.

Children’s Activities: costume parade, pumpkin seed spitting Children’s Activities: costume parade, pumpkin seed spitting contest, crafts, pumpkin patch games/adventure activitiescontest, crafts, pumpkin patch games/adventure activities

Retail Alley: designate area for local crafters and booths, food Retail Alley: designate area for local crafters and booths, food sellers, festival merchandisesellers, festival merchandise

Volunteer /Pride Sponsor Tent: register attendees for Pride Volunteer /Pride Sponsor Tent: register attendees for Pride Rewards and Pride Savings cards, sign-in of volunteers, pumpkin Rewards and Pride Savings cards, sign-in of volunteers, pumpkin lighter distribution.lighter distribution.

Live Entertainment: centrally located stage/risers to showcase local Live Entertainment: centrally located stage/risers to showcase local entertainers; evening fireworksentertainers; evening fireworks

Sample ScheduleSample Schedule DAY ONEDAY ONE

Builders erect tower scaffolding, place bench scaffolding and risers for Builders erect tower scaffolding, place bench scaffolding and risers for entertainmententertainment

Merchant tents erectedMerchant tents erected Volunteer Meeting at Volunteer Tent StationVolunteer Meeting at Volunteer Tent Station

DAY TWODAY TWO Final pumpkin carvingFinal pumpkin carving Pumpkin placementPumpkin placement Merchants check in at Volunteer Tent StationMerchants check in at Volunteer Tent Station

DAY THREE (Festival Day)DAY THREE (Festival Day) Show coordination (entertainers, crafts, volunteer coordination)Show coordination (entertainers, crafts, volunteer coordination) Begin manual/flame lighting near duskBegin manual/flame lighting near dusk Pride Stores Commitment Presentation + Lighting of Pumpkin Tower at Pride Stores Commitment Presentation + Lighting of Pumpkin Tower at

duskdusk FireworksFireworks Late night Clean Up crews hit the areaLate night Clean Up crews hit the area

Tower Lighting Presentation Highlights Pride Tower Lighting Presentation Highlights Pride Stores’ CommitmentsStores’ Commitments

The Pride Promise: The Pride Promise: Dedicated to providing fast and friendly service, quality products at low prices, with Dedicated to providing fast and friendly service, quality products at low prices, with clean and professional facilities. clean and professional facilities.

The Pride Goal: The Pride Goal: Continue operating great stores and expand our growth. We will do so responsibly and Continue operating great stores and expand our growth. We will do so responsibly and adhere to our commitment to our Partners, our customers, our community and our adhere to our commitment to our Partners, our customers, our community and our environment. environment.

Pride Pumpkin Festival Mission Statement and Charitable Goal:Pride Pumpkin Festival Mission Statement and Charitable Goal:Our mission is to improve the quality of life through a cultural, family-oriented event that Our mission is to improve the quality of life through a cultural, family-oriented event that brings the community together in celebration. We are dedicated to keeping our brings the community together in celebration. We are dedicated to keeping our communities alive and thriving, and to providing a celebration that truly enhances the communities alive and thriving, and to providing a celebration that truly enhances the quality of life for our residents, employees, friends, and visitors. quality of life for our residents, employees, friends, and visitors.

Giving: For every registration for Pride Savings or Rewards card, Pride will donate $1 Giving: For every registration for Pride Savings or Rewards card, Pride will donate $1 towards Mary Anne’s Kids, an organization dedicated to support children in Foster Care. towards Mary Anne’s Kids, an organization dedicated to support children in Foster Care.

Festival Traits:Festival Traits:Free, family-oriented, inspirational, community-driven, entertaining, quality, striking Free, family-oriented, inspirational, community-driven, entertaining, quality, striking visuals that result in a memorable experience. visuals that result in a memorable experience.

Festival LocationFestival Location

Sponsor CategoriesSponsor CategoriesList of sponsors that will be needed to provide financial List of sponsors that will be needed to provide financial support, products and services support, products and services

Pumpkin tower scaffolding. Local builder to fabricate and place scaffolding, Pumpkin tower scaffolding. Local builder to fabricate and place scaffolding, and display benches. and display benches.

Electricity. Local electrical contractor to light tower pumpkins and run Electricity. Local electrical contractor to light tower pumpkins and run electricity to vendor booths. electricity to vendor booths.

Website. Volunteer to design and post messages onto Pride Pumpkin Website. Volunteer to design and post messages onto Pride Pumpkin Festival website. Festival website.

Advertising. Need local publication to run print ads for the event. Suggest: Advertising. Need local publication to run print ads for the event. Suggest: Reminder PublicationsReminder Publications

Signage/program printing. Suggest: Staples or PrioritySignage/program printing. Suggest: Staples or Priority Pumpkins. Suggest: Pell Farm, Meadowbrook FarmPumpkins. Suggest: Pell Farm, Meadowbrook Farm Tables/chairs/tents. Suggest: Taylor RentalTables/chairs/tents. Suggest: Taylor Rental Hardware/lighters. Suggest: Rocky’sHardware/lighters. Suggest: Rocky’s First Aid. First Aid.

Retail MerchantsRetail Merchants

EntertainmentEntertainment

Children’s ActivitiesChildren’s Activities

The PumpkinsThe Pumpkins

The PeopleThe People

The FinaleThe Finale

The Clean UpThe Clean Up