Calabasas Pumpkin Festival returns

Many residents were disappointed to hear last year that the Calabasas Chamber of Commerce had to postpone its popu

ar Calabasas Pumpkin Festival. Those people will be happy to know that this year the festival is back.

The 2005 Calabasas Pumpkin Festival is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sun., Oct. 23 at Juan Bautista de Anza Park, 3701 Lost Hills Road, Calabasas.

“We’re expecting between 5,000 and 10,000 people,” said Susan Orgen, festival chairperson.

The Chamber wanted to postpone the Pumpkin Festival to plan for a bigger and better event this year, said Carol Washburn, president and CEO.

The festival originated in Old Calabasas, then moved to Paramount Ranch off Kanan Road, where it’s been for the past several years. Washburn said the Chamber moved the festival to Juan Bautista de Anza Park this year so that it would be more cen

ral to city residents.

According to Orgen, the city will allow for more street park

ng and will provide shuttles that will serve the festival from other parking areas around the city.

Wasbhurn said the parking at Paramount Ranch had been a problem.

The Pumpkin Festival is a family-oriented, fall festival that will feature carnival games, arts and crafts, live entertainment, food and beverage vendors, and a fun zone with inflatable rides.

New to the festival this year will be an antique car show and an “adopt-a-pumpkin” program.

The main attraction, of course, will be the pumpkin-related activities, including a pumpkin patch, pumpkin bowling, pumpkin carving, pumpkin painting, a pumpkin pie eating competition and a seed spitting contest.

The Calabasas Chamber of Commerce, the city of Calabasas and the Calabasas Arts Council are the event sponsors.

For more information about the festival call the Chamber at (818) 222-5680 or go to www. calabasaspumpkinfestival.com.

The website features general information about the festival, a section for vendors to apply for exhibition space, an antique car show page with an application for participants, and a contact page for general inquiries.