The Town of Crossfield is hosting its popular pumpkin hunt again this year on Oct. 20 at Veterans Peace Park from 4 to 8 p.m., complete with prizes, treats, a take-home jack-o-lantern, and a chance for kids to dress up in their Halloween costumes 10 days early.
According to Eris Latham, the recreation and event coordinator for the Town, though the two previous years’ events were modified to accommodate health restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic, the ever-popular pumpkin hunt has carried on without disruption over the last five years.
During the pandemic, each registrant was given a particular time slot to find their pumpkin to maintain social distancing. Despite these restrictions, Latham added the event has continued to grow in popularity with Crossfield families over the last few years.
“We didn’t have to cancel any of our pumpkin hunts over COVID years because they are outdoors,” she said. “We’ve had a very successful last five years of the pumpkin hunt [and it] has grown exponentially since about 2017.”
She added this year’s pre-registered event, as in previous years, sold out on the same day tickets were made available. Latham said the event has been a fan-favourite local attraction in Crossfield since it started approximately 15 years ago.
“This year, we are hiding more pumpkins than we’ve ever had,” Latham said of the upcoming event. “We’re trying to accommodate as many children as possible and we will be hiding 360-plus pumpkins.”
Latham said the event will go back to the pre-pandemic format without time slots for registrants. She added the event will be open to anyone who registered for the event prior to it selling out.
“We did an in-person registration on Sept. 27 in the evening at the Town office and we did sell out and we have quite a substantial waiting list as well,” she said of the event’s popularity.
After the hunt is over, the participating kids will get to take home the pumpkin they were designated to find in the trees. Latham said they will also receive a treat bag from the Town, and the evening will also include a draw or giveaway.
In addition to take-home pumpkins, treats, and prizes, members of the Crossfield Fire Department will also be in attendance to facilitate a bonfire to finish off the event, provided there are no fire bans implemented at that time, Latham said.
“They will have the trucks there as well for kids to kind of check out,” she added.
Latham said the event was scheduled on a Thursday this year, as Crossfield Elementary School is having a Halloween dance the following Friday night.
“We didn’t want to overlap events, but we’re just trying to raise some Halloween spirit,” she said. “It’s been a long couple of years, and this is a fun one for a lot of people.”
According to Latham, attendees should come wearing their costumes to make the most of the Halloween-themed pumpkin hunt.
“We love seeing our kids come in costumes and we also actually love seeing our parents come in costumes as well,” she added. “It’s just a really fun family night.
