(Above: Stittsville Pumpkin Parade 2013. Photo by Trevor Eggleton.)
On November 1, Village Square Park will be home to what is becoming a familiar Stittsville tradition. Now in its third year, the Stittsville Pumpkin Parade continues to grow and has found a place in the community’s annual calendar.
Called a parade, it’s more of a show of Stittsville’s talent and spirit. Community members bring their jack o’lanterns to Village Square Park where they are filled with electric candles and put on display giving the park a beautiful and eerie feel.
As in past years, prizes from local business will be awarded in three categories: child, teen and adult. The local businesses who have generously donated prizes are Tracy’s Art Studio, Pottery Playhouse, the Ottawa Senators’, Brown’s Your Independent Grocer, Saoirse Esthetics, The Glen Pub, and Covered Bridge Brewing. With the increased size of the parade have come increased costs, but with local support from Little Wagon Photography, Bradley’s Commercial Insurance, StittsvilleCentral.ca, The Stittsville Village Association and Shad Qadri from the City of Ottawa, the event is still possible.
The support I’ve received from the community has been amazing. I wanted to create an event for the community and it has become an event by the community. Half of it is looking at the pumpkins, but the other half is people coming together to talk to their neighbours.
This year, there will also be free hot chocolate from Quitters Coffee and a visit by Major Jim Watson. And don’t worry about having to take your pumpkin home as they will be composted after the event.
The event goes from 6:00 to 7:15 PM and pumpkins can be dropped off starting at 5 PM. More information is available at www.facebook.com/pumpkinparade
Trevor Eggleton is the organizer of the Stittsville Pumpkin Parade.
