Spaces open for Shelburne Pumpkinfest’s vendor market

Written By Paula Brown

A call is out for local businesses to take part in a vendor's market at this year's Pumpkinfest.

The Rotary Club of Shelburne and Team Apex Real Estate is bringing back its fall-themed event – Pumpkinfest – on Oct. 12 at Natasha Paterson Memorial Park. The event is growing this year to include a vendor's market.

“The vendor's market is something new that we're adding this year and we're really excited to add it,” said Michelle Chidwick, event coordinator for Pumpkinfest. “This is a great opportunity to highlight your business. We are anticipating even more people to come this year, especially being the Thanksgiving weekend.” 

First held in 2023, Pumpkinfest is a fall-themed event hosted by the Rotary Club of Shelburne and Team Apex Real Estate, that looks to raise funds for community initiatives while bringing friends and families together for fall festivities. 

The event features a number of activities for residents including a pie-eating contest, pumpkin painting, inflatable games, a Velcro wall, magic show, balloon making, a trackless train ride and a performance by Turn It Out Dance Studio. 

Every family that attends the event is also gifted a free large pumpkin. 

Last year, the inaugural Pumpkinfest saw over 500 visitors and raised more than $2,000 for the Shelburne Food Bank – Shepherd's Cupboard. 

“We're hoping to see even more people this year and raise even more money,” said Chidwick. 

Speaking with the Free Press, Chidwick said the organizers were interested in bringing a vendor's market to the fall-themed event as a way to expand the demographic of visitors as well as highlight local small businesses.  

“The goal is to get everyone in the community involved in really highlighting our local businesses,” said Chidwick. “Shelburne is a smaller town and I think when we support local, we not only help that business but we help the morale of the community; we only get better as a community.” 

The organizers are hoping to have a minimum of 25 vendors featured at the event, selling a variety of products such as jewelry, beauty, candles, home goods, and hand-made items.  

The cost for businesses to be a part of the vendor's market is $25. 

Those who are interested in being a vendor at the 2024 Pumpkinfest market held on Oct. 12 are asked to contact Michelle Chidwick by email at michelle@teamapex.ca.