Annual Pumpkin Festival celebrates fall and supports the community

After Sarasota's Sue Norris and her husband and two children began branding cups in 2020, they found outlets in the local community. 

That included the Annual Pumpkin Festival at Fruitville Grove, where they said guests remember them and return to their stand each year.

"It's nice because it doesn't cost much and there's lots for families to do," Sue Norris said of the festival. "Even I spent time over with the baby animals."

The Annual Pumpkin Festival, which takes place each weekend Saturday and Sunday until Oct. 29, offers a variety of activities for the family, as well as support for the local community.

On Oct. 8, kids and families could be seen enjoying the variety of pumpkins, a hay play area, a free circus, and many other activities; meeting animals that included baby piglets, skunks, butterflies, and even a unicorn; and finally enjoying food and refreshments, from corn dogs to candy apples. 

"We come here every year," said Steve Major, who said said his family is drawn to festival by activities for the kids, the food, and the chance to support local vendors.

Meanwhile, the community also found support, as guests had the chance to shop a craft section featuring about 80 vendors from the local area offering crocheting, jewelry, figurines and more.

"We've been very, very busy," said Connie Howard, a Sarasota crochet artist who operates Toys by Connie. "They went really fast. I even sewed some of them here."