Elon University environmental studies professor Michael Strickland will host an annual Pumpkin Festival at 2:30 p.m. on Oct. 27 at the Elon Community Garden located behind the Hillel house at 401 E. College Ave.
The festival is a part of Strickland’s garden studio class, ENS 2200, in which visitors will be able to see the fruits of the students’ labor — as well as participate in activities such as face painting, spikeball and pumpkin carving.
Senior Eva Colon, teaching assistant for the garden studio class, said in order to prepare for the pumpkin festival, students have been beautifying the community garden, pulling weeds from their plots and giving the chairs and benches a new coat of paint.
In addition, multiple organizations will provide food and activities for the event. Elon Dining, for example, will be providing hot chocolate, apple cider and fall-themed food. Elon Sustainability is providing a photo booth to take group pictures. Kappa Delta is doing hair tinsel and Elon Volunteers will be roasting pumpkin seeds left over from pumpkin carving.
“Everyone has chosen their own activity to collaborate with us,” Colon said.
The festival is a part of Strickland’s garden studio class, ENS 2200, in which visitors will be able to see the fruits of the students’ labor — as well as participate in activities such as face painting, spikeball and pumpkin carving.
The purpose of the Pumpkin Festival is to bring the community together before the fall season ends. Colon said that attending the festival would be a good opportunity for people to be in a natural environment before Elon transitions from fall to winter. Furthermore, it also gives the garden studio class the opportunity to show people what nature can provide for them.
“It’s a great way to show what we do as a garden class and give insight to what a community is capable of doing with their garden,” Colon said.
According to Colon, the pumpkin festival used to have an attendance of around 400 people, but has since decreased following the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, in order to yield the same number of people, the students in the class have hung up posters and made posts on their social media to spread awareness of the event.
“We’re hoping for great numbers this year,” Colon said.
Colon said she is most excited to see everyone come together for the pumpkin festival. She said she hopes that the Elon community will enjoy all the work that was put into setting up the event and have fun as they enjoy each other’s company.
“I am so excited for the music and just the overall fall vibes,” Colon said. “But, I’m very excited for our community to come together.