PumpkinFest slated for Oct. 12-14 in St. Joe

ST. JOSEPH, MO — The 17th Annual PumpkinFest, a family-focused festival sponsored by the Pony Express National Museum at 9th and Penn Street, opens at 5 p.m. Friday, Oct. 12, 2012, and runs through Sunday, Oct. 14, closing that day at 5 p.m. Highlight of the 3-day celebration will take place at 8 P.M. Friday, October 12th, when over 800 hundred hand carved pumpkins will be electrically lit on “Pumpkin Mountain” in front of the museum. Food will be available in Patee Park across the street from the museum throughout PumpkinFest, as will such familiar activities as pony rides, a petting zoo, children’s games, crafts, and the carnival.  Entertainment will be almost continuous on the main stage, gazebo and with roaming artists. On stage entertainment will include BJ Talley; magician, storytelling by Will Stuck and local young dance groups. Back by popular demand, the Baker Family; listen as the children perform bluegrass and country music. On the main stage X-STATIC band will perform Friday at 6:30 to 8 p.m. and the Phil Vandel Band will perform Saturday night from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Sunday, MandaLynn and the Rocking Country Variety Show will be from 1 to 2:00 p.m. with a special comedian to perform. Professor Farquar will also be performing throughout the weekend as Abraham Lincoln. On Saturday, as an added attraction during Will Stuck’s Storytelling, books will be given out on at 1 p.m. by the St. Joseph Public Library and the Pony Express Museum. Books are for pre-school age children through the 5th grade. All food, craft and arts booths will be open from 5 to 9 p.m. on Friday, from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturday and from noon until 5 p.m. Sunday. For more information on PumpkinFest, visit our website at www.ponyexpress.org.