Sponsors sought, sign
on for Pumpkin Festival

What do 30 tons of pumpkins cost?

Few people (aside from Mrs. Smith) would ever need to ask that question. But when you’re planning an event like the Calabasas Chamber of Commerce’s 10th annual Pumpkin Festival, it’s something you must consider.

"We buy per ton," said Joe Rita of Event Services Plus, the Calabasas firm producing the festival, "So we get a pretty good rate."

But the permits, services, advertising, lighting and insurance needed to put on the two-day festival don’t come cheap.

Finding sponsors to put up the nearly $200,000 it costs to produce is probably the biggest hurdle faced by organizers. Lack of sponsorship was a major factor in canceling the festival in 2001, but after a year’s hiatus, the Chamber is determined to see Paramount Ranch decked out in orange come October.

Organizers have lined up sponsors to cover about three-fourths of the money needed.

The presenting sponsor, as usual, will be the city of Calabasas, with an outlay of $25,000. West Hills Hospital and Medical Center follows the city as the second largest sponsor, offering $10,000 for the event (up from previous years). Other large contributors include Consolidated Disposal Service with $5,000 and the Encino-Tarzana Regional Medical Center with $2,500.

"What most people don’t realize is … that the money raised is going to help and support a lot of needy organizations in their area," said Rita.

Organizations such as the American Cancer Society, the Calabasas Kiwanis Club, the Pacific Lodge Youth Service and the West Valley YMCA, whose members volunteer to run the festival, receive half of the net proceeds, which amounted to $50,000 in 2000.

"While you’re out spending money, you can at least appreciate that 50 percent of it is going to charitable causes," said Lilianne Chaumont, chairwoman of the board for the Chamber.

Volunteers and sponsors are still needed. Get details at (818) 225-2227 or by going online at www.pumpkin-festival.com.

––Gregory Koteles