Port Elgin Pumpkinfest organizers are excited about some major changes this year.
The 30th edition of the popular festival will see the giant pumpkins and other vegetables move back into downtown Port Elgin for the first time in more than 20 years.
Vendor Director Connie Barker says all events will be held within the downtown area October 1st and 2nd, with the giant vegetable weigh-off moving from the Saugeen District Secondary School grounds to the former Port Elgin Arena, now the Port Elgin Missionary Church.
The festival has traditionally drawn about 50,000 people over the course of the two days, and while the changes will make the downtown even busier, Barker says all residents in the downtown area have signed off on the new plans.
"There is going to be more congestion and it's going to be a little different, but we've always closed [downtown] all down, we've always filled the town, so now they get to come and see the midway and be right there with it," says Barker.
While there have often been rumours of world record pumpkins heading to Port Elgin for Pumpkinfest, Barker says a "finicky" growing season means they aren't expecting anybody to challenge the world record of more than 2,300 pounds, but they are confident the leaderboard will be full of giants well in excess of 1,000 pounds.
