BOYKINS
If it’s October, then it must be time for the Boykins PumpkinFest.

The seasonal wingding takes place on Saturday, Oct. 17, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Eric Coard, who’s again involved in the organizing, said two new attractions this year will be a dunk tank and a kids pedal tractor pull.

Two stages will be set up for live entertainment, including music performed by Hammerhead Blues and the Variety Pac Band.

A talent show, games and contests, two Kid Zones, inflatables, pony rides, face painting, temporary tattoos, vendors and crafts will be set up.

“Also, there’ll be tons of food,” Eric Coard said. “Whoever comes, don’t eat beforehand.”

Speaking of which, there will be cake and cookie walks all through the day.

A car, truck, bike and tractor show will again be featured.

“At the car show [last year] we had a really good turnout and there’ll be even more this year,” said Sandy Coard, chairwoman.

Of course, you can’t have a pumpkin festival without the familiar bright-orange gourds. Thankfully, there’ll be no lack this year in spite of the recent spate of bad weather.

She added that Turtle Creek Farms will again provide pumpkins, as well as the hayrides.

There were no particular challenges in organizing this year’s event.

“This is the sixth year, and we pretty much know what we’re doing at this point,” Sandy Coard added with laughter.

She and the nine other people on the committee anticipate a large turnout.

“We’re thinking we brought in about 1,500 to 2,000 people last year. There was people everywhere.

“It’s a big event, but we pull it off,” Sandy Coard said. “The volunteers, they’re the hardest thing to find, but we have quite a few this year.”

Sponsors this year include National Glass, Real Country 101.7, the Boykins Lions Club, the Boykins BSV, Virginia and North Carolina Railroads, Franklin-Southampton Economic Development Inc.,

Masonic Lodge A.F & A.M., Britt & Peak, P.C., Dr. Winston M. Browne III, DDS., Rick Francis, Boykins Hogs Inc., The Tidewater News, Baggett Metal Products LLC and Carter & Dwyer, P.C.