[dropcap]B[\/dropcap]lue Grass Nursery Sod and Garden Centre held its annual pumpkin fest on Oct. 8 in support of the Alberta Children\u2019s Hospital Foundation.<\/p>\n
About 5,500 people attended the event, which featured a wide variety of activities and spectacles that offered entertainment for every age group.<\/p>\n
Calgarian Stacie Woolford, manager of community initiative and events at the Alberta Children\u2019s Hospital Foundation, said the event, which had its 14th<\/sup> edition this year, is a significant fund-raiser for the foundation.<\/p>\n The event had no mandatory entry fee, but donations were encouraged upon entry, with a recommended donation of $5.<\/p>\n Although donations were voluntary, there were other opportunities to pay for various things throughout the festival, with proceeds going to the Alberta Children\u2019s Hospital Foundation.<\/p>\n Woolford said that the event collects about $20, 000 in donations for the foundation every year, and relies heavily on volunteers.<\/p>\n She praised Blue Grass Nursery for sustaining such a popular event.<\/p>\n \u201cBlue Grass Nursery has it down to a science,\u201d said Woolford.<\/p>\n Calgarian Lisa Silva, the organizer of the festival, was pleased with this year\u2019s turnout.<\/p>\n She said visitors could expect the same experience the festival offers every year, adding that that\u2019s what keeps it great.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s amazing as it is,\u201d said Silva.<\/p>\n The festival is a great event to visit for families with children, although there were entertaining activities for all age groups.<\/p>\n Among the many massive pumpkins on display was the Alberta record-holder, weighing an impressive 1,652 pounds, Silva said.<\/p>\n There was also the Alberta record-holder for the biggest squash, which weighed at 934 pounds.<\/p>\n All the pumpkins on display were grown by people in the Calgary area.<\/p>\n Silva said visitors also had the opportunity to buy raffle tickets for a chance to win a $2,500 Air Canada travel voucher or a Rainbow Play System, with proceeds being donated to the Alberta Children\u2019s Hospital Foundation.<\/p>\n Visitors could also participate in carving a pumpkin, with the option of taking their pumpkins home for a $5 donation.<\/p>\n (Video credit: CBC Calgary)<\/em><\/p>\n