Becky Gonyea, Executive Director, of the Clarina Howard Nichols Center, provided us with a very nice round-up of this year's massively successful 14th Annual Vermont Pumpkin Chuckin' Festival:
Estimated record attendance - 1,700 people!
The event raised nearly $30,000 for the Clarina Howard Nichols Center (double what the event has raised in the past)! Funds raised come from entrance fees, business sponsors, t-shirt sales, the chili cook-off, and craft fair vendor fees.
Thank you to our business sponsors -
Heavyweight - N.A. Manosh Corporation, Smugglers’ Notch Resort
Middleweight - Coldwell Banker Carlson Real Estate, Commodities Natural Market, Community National Bank, In Company, Leaves of Change Vermont, Piecasso Family Pizzeria, Seldom Scene Interiors, 10 Railroad Street/The Blue Donkey, Union Bank
Lightweight - Bourne’s Energy, BunyaBunya, Casella Waste Systems, Cork Restaurant & Natural Wine Shop, Donald P. Blake Jr. Inc., Edward Jones – Caren Merson, Financial Advisor, Manufacturing Solutions, Inc., Nichols & Associates, P.C., Points North Physical Therapy, The Country Store on Main, The Melted Cheeserie, The UPS Store, Trombley & Day Group
Chili Cook-off Results -
There were 9 entries into the chili cook-off.
Attendees paid $5 to taste their choice of 5 of the chilis.
They voted for their favorite chili.
The winners are -
1st place - #8 - Evan Wisell
2nd place - #7 - Carter Peck
3rd place - 2-way tie - #6 - Deb's Place and #4 - Renee Proteau
After 3 food/drink vendors canceled at the last minute, the 4 remaining vendors stepped up and worked non-stop to serve the large crowd. Thank you to The Melted Cheeserie, Mediterranean Mix, Street Treats Ice Cream Truck, and Jenna's Promise Roasting Co.
New to the event this year was a craft fair. Event attendees enjoyed shopping from 40 craft vendors who sold a wide variety of products including pottery, jewelry, honey, clothing, maple products, woodworking, artwork, and much more. One vendor said this event was their most profitable event all year.
This event would not be possible without the help of our volunteers. Nearly 50 volunteers helped to make the event a reality. Volunteers assisted with everything from set up to clean up, parking cars, cleaning bathrooms, collecting entrance fees, staffing the kids' activities, measuring pumpkin chuckin' distances, and much more. A special thank you to the youth volunteers from Peoples Academy and Stowe High School.
Becky Gonyea (she/her)
Executive Director
Clarina Howard Nichols Center
PO Box 517, Morrisville, VT 05661
bgonyea@clarina.org
Office - (802) 888-2584 ext. 103
24-Hour Hotline – (802) 888-5256
