Why buy a Halloween pumpkin when you can hunt for one instead?
That’s the overall sentiment of the Town of Crossfield’s annual pumpkin hunt, which returns to Veterans Peace Park Oct. 25 from 6 to 8 p.m.
This year, more than 250 pumpkins will be hidden throughout the forested area of the park for costume-clad children to find, according to Eris Latham, recreation and events co-ordinator with the Town.
“We used to accommodate 200 people, but it’s grown exponentially and we’re trying to keep up with demand,” she said.
Latham added the event was so popular this year, registration sold out in less than two days.
“We sold 170 spots in 20 minutes,” she said. “We had people lined up outside the door before the office actually opened.
“Expanding it is something we will look into. Of course, when you have that volume of pumpkins, you need more people.”
Participants are assigned a number prior to the event’s start, then hunt for the pumpkin with the corresponding number.
“It is definitely a pre-registered event,” Latham said. “We do have some people follow the crowd, wonder what’s going on, and try to help find pumpkins. Unfortunately, we cannot accommodate that.”
While the hunt used to take place during the day, Latham said, moving it into the evening will add to the Halloween ambiance. She added there will be a bonfire, along with hot chocolate and other treats for particiapnts to enjoy.
“Everyone gets a flashlight so they can hunt safely in the forest, and all the pumpkins have a glow stick sticking out of them, so you can see them even when it gets dark,” she said.
Though the pumpkin hunt is always fun and exciting, Latham said, it is a highly demanding event for the Town to host. Last year, she said, Town staff and volunteers manually handled 17,000 pounds worth of pumpkins, by the end of the event.
“We get them, we unload them, we sort them, we number them, we put a glow stick in them, then we load them back in the bins, take them to the park and unload them again,” she said. “It takes a lot of manpower, and we’re a small department.”
Considering Crossfield retains its friendly, small town feel, Latham said, Halloween is the perfect holiday for the community.
“In a town like Crossfield, you get to a point where everyone knows everyone,” she said. “You’re knocking on neighbours’ doors or friends’ doors when trick-or-treating, and everyone is looking out for each other. It’s a very warm atmosphere during these types of holidays.”
