Essex Parks and Recreation

Announcements & News

Come celebrate on Saturday, October 26, 2024, at the 24^th Annual Ivoryton Pumpkin Festival. The event brings more than 1,500 visitors to the green for FREE festival activities! Enjoy all the best traditions of Autumn and Halloween. It is a great time for the entire family, and we encourage the Halloween spirit with costumes! So much so that this year’s festival will include a Trunk or Treat sponsored by the Ivoryton Village Alliance!

Be sure to take the Great Pumpkin Challenge. We need families, groups, community organizations, and local businesses to bring carved pumpkins to the Ivoryton Village Green! Find a spot and display your pumpkin anytime Sat. from 9a-4pm

The festival will be filled with exciting events and activities for the entire family to enjoy.

Start the morning off right with Bushy Hill Nature Center 9:30am to 12:30pm on the Nature Center front lawn located at 253 Bushy Hill Rd., Ivoryton, CT, for a Pre-Festival Pumpkin Carving Party. All ages and abilities are invited to create a carved masterpiece that will be displayed at the festival’s lighted Pumpkin Stroll. Special thanks to Bushy Hill Nature Center at Incarnation Center for hosting and the Essex Police Union for providing pumpkins.

Back by popular demand – the 3^rd Annual Costume Parade! Although the parade is open to everyone it is geared to ages 12 & under. The first 100 little marchers who registered ONLINE ONLY will receive Pumpkin Festival swag and goodie giveaways so register ASAP at www.essexct.recdesk.com (use the programs tab).

The Parade will step off at 4pm from the corner of Walnut and Main Street in the Ivoryton Village. We will march down Main Street to get to the Pumpkin Festival. The fun will start with live music from the FEDERATION from 4:30 pm -6:30pm. At 4:30pm The Painted Smile will be at Brickside Pizza’s side patio to add the finishing touches to your costume with facepainting! Alongside The Painted Smile there will be a Selfie Station courtesy of Dabby’s Events and tabletop games for friends and families to enjoy.

Satisfy your sweet tooth with cookie decorating with the volunteers from Tri Town Youth Services starting at 4:30 pm at the Ivoryton Village Green.

Enjoy a not so scary horse-drawn hayride sponsored by the Park & Recreation Commission. Rides will leave from the Village Green from 4:30 pm-6:30 pm. Get ready to be spooked by the Haunted Happenings at the Ivoryton Library from 4:30 pm -6:30 pm. House of the Triple Moon will be onsite at the library brick patio hosting Tarot Card pulls.

We will have special guest appearances at 5:30!

Enjoy free refreshments while they last on the Ivoryton Playhouse Patio starting at 4:30 pm, courtesy of Essex Lions Club & Essex Park and Recreation.

Don’t forget to take a stroll around the village and take in the sights of the beautifully carved pumpkins on display. The Pumpkin Lighting begins at 4 pm and the pumpkins will stay lit through the night (pumpkins must be picked up before 9 am Monday morning).

For more information regarding the Ivoryton Village Pumpkin Festival please call 860-767-4340 x148 or visit www.essexct.gov.