Central Park

A Terror-ific Time At The Pumpkin Festival 2008

IMMEDIATE
Monday, October 27, 2008
No. 118
http://www.nyc.gov/parks

On Saturday, thousands of New Yorkers enjoyed Halloween activities and fall festivities at the Pumpkin Festival 2008 in Central Park. From hayrides to a haunted house to a pumpkin patch and scarecrow contest, participants had a spooktacular time – all for the benefit of Camp Sunshine, a year-round program for children with life-threatening illnesses and their families.

“The Pumpkin Festival 2008 is even more exciting than last year with a scarecrow competition, a pumpkin patch, great musical performers and a custom haunted house! The best part is all these fall festivities are for a good cause,” said Commissioner Benepe. “Parks is proud to work with Camp Sunshine another year to raise money to promote community and help children with life-threatening illnesses and their families.”

“We are thrilled with the support from our friends at the Parks Department, and the wonderful people of New York,” said Matt Hoidal, Executive Director of Camp Sunshine. “By embracing Camp Sunshine, they have helped raise much-needed awareness and funding for our program, enabling us to serve many more sick children and their families from the greater New York City area.”

For the first time this year, the Bethesda Arcade was transformed into the grounds of a haunted house, designed by the same company that runs the popular annual haunted house in the Lower East Side. Thrill seekers passed through six different rooms that featured bone-chilling zombies and other spooky surprises!

New Yorkers also celebrated the spirit of Halloween and creative expression by checking out the Parks Department’s first citywide scarecrow competition at Bethesda Fountain. Attendees were encouraged to wear their costumes and take home a memory at one of the photo booths. Families picked up a free pumpkin at the patch at Cherry Hill or checked out the 20-foot tall Jack-o’-Lantern Tower at the Naumberg Bandshell. Big Apple Circus’ Anna Jack and her famous poodles, kiddie rockers Princess Kate and Racer Steve and the Laughing Pizza band entertained festival revelers with exciting tricks and musical performances.

Event sponsors included the S.L.E. Lupus Foundation, the Children’s Brain Tumor Foundation, The New York Post, Laughing Pizza, 98.7 Kiss, Big Apple Circus, Sports Museum of America and Princess Kate & Racer Steve, Instinet, Village Candle, The Nets, Forest City Ratner Companies and Jet Blue Airways.

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