Virginia Pumpkin Festival facts for kids
The Virginia Pumpkin Festival is a fun yearly event held in the town of Virginia, County Cavan in the Republic of Ireland. It started in 2007 and takes place every bank holiday weekend around Halloween at the end of October. It's a time when the town celebrates all things pumpkin!
How the Festival Began
The Virginia Pumpkin Festival first started in 2007. It was a big hit right away, with thousands of people coming to join the fun. The festival usually kicks off on a Friday.
One of the first exciting events was the Pumpkin King and Queen competition. People from different local businesses would compete, and the winners in 2007 were Avril Soden and Martin Tynan. The main event on Sunday afternoon was a huge pumpkin competition. Growers would bring their giant pumpkins to be weighed. The winner of the first Virginia Pumpkin Competition was Ed Molloy from County Longford. After the weigh-in, there was a lively parade through the town.
Exciting Events Over the Years
The festival grew even bigger in the years that followed. Many of the popular events from 2007 continued, and new ones were added. These included a fun fancy dress Halloween party, a kids' treasure hunt, and even cooking demonstrations.
A special event called the Whirlygig Fire parade would light up the night, followed by a dazzling fireworks display. The festival also brought in famous musicians to perform live. Some of the well-known artists who played included Shane MacGowan, Sharon Shannon, and Mundy. A street theatre group called Whirligig, from County Donegal, also put on amazing shows.
In 2009, the popular band Bell X1 performed. Country music stars Declan Nerney and Philomena Begley also entertained the crowds. In 2013, the famous chef Richard Corrigan helped launch the festival. The festival took a break in 2020 but returned in 2021, continuing to bring joy and pumpkins to Virginia.
