Have you ever seen a 1,000 or 1,500 pound pumpkin? Now you can see three of them in downtown Annapolis through Halloween! This is the first year that giant pumpkin displays have been brought to downtown Annapolis. “We wanted to bring some fall cheer to Annapolis and encourage people to get out, take a stroll through downtown and take pictures with their family,” says Erik Evans, Executive Director of three downtown Annapolis non-profit groups. People are looking for fun and safe ways to enjoy the fall season and downtown Annapolis is providing those options with outdoor dining, giant pumpkins, haunted tours, art markets, and more this fall.
The project started with Bumper Moyer who wanted to bring pumpkin displays to downtown Annapolis and took a road trip to a pumpkin farm in Western Pennsylvania that specializes in giant pumpkins with Joe Gormley and Brian Cahalan to pick out the pumpkins. Bumper has a history of volunteering and doing community improvement projects in the Eastport Community and wanted to expand into downtown Annapolis this year. Upon the groups return to Annapolis from the pumpkin farm with a truckload of pumpkins, gourds, hay bales, and mums, the City of Annapolis provided a forklift and a public works crew to help get the giant pumpkins, gourds, and even a 100-pound watermelon but into the displays. The pumpkins are located near Lemongrass Restaurant, St. Anne’s Church and the corner of Main Street and Market Space.
After seeing everyone wanting their picture taken with the giant pumpkins several restaurants joined together and have donated 16 gift cards that the public can have a chance to win when they post their pictures of the giant pumpkins to social media using the hashtag #GreatAnnapolisPumkin. The restaurants that donated the gift cards for the contest include Dangerously Delicious Pies, Osteria 77, Buddy’s Crabs and Ribs, 49 West Coffeehouse, Federal House Bar and Grill, Iron Rooster, Latitude 38, Lemongrass, and Tsunami. The winners are being selected and announced by WRNR 103.1 FM Radio regularly now through Halloween. This is the perfect opportunity to create a unique photo to share with friends. So far family photos and family pets getting their pictures with the giant pumpkins have been very popular in the photos posted on Instagram and Facebook.
Funding for the Great Annapolis Pumpkins was provided by Bumper Moyer, Joe Gormley, Downtown Annapolis Partnership, the Annapolis Arts District, and the Inner West Street Association.
For those looking for outdoor Halloween events to go along with seeing the Great Annapolis Pumpkins, downtown Annapolis has you covered all weekend with the following special outdoor events. Be sure to get in the spirit and wear a costume.
Friday, Oct 30
- Pumpkins on the Avenue at the Hammond-Harwood House Friday from noon to 4 pm
- Reynolds Tavern – Live music for those seated on the back patio by Josh Kachura from 8 pm to 11 pm.
- Dinner Under the Stars – Live music for those seated for dinner on the first block of West Street by Jordan Sokel Duo from 6 pm – 9 pm
- Dracula by the Ballet Theatre of Maryland Friday, October 30 from 2 pm – 3:30 pm
- Market Space – Live music for those seated for ding by Larry Lay from and 5 pm – 9 pm
Saturday, Oct 31
- Fill the Truck – Bring canned goods and other non-perishable foods to the Bud Truck on Market Space to be donated to local food banks from 11 am to 1 pm
- Buddy’s Crab and Ribs -Live music starts at 4 pm from Ben McNulty and a few other special guests. The Naptown Brass Band steps off at 7 pm and the party rocks until 9 pm.
- Dinner Under the Stars – Live music for those seated for dinner on the first block of West Street by Ryan Kozel from 6 pm – 9 pm.
- Market Space – Live music for those seated for dining by Timmie & Tambo from 12 pm – 3 pm and by Mac & Blue from 6 pm – 9 pm.
Sunday, Nov 1
- First Sunday Arts Market – 50+ artisans will the first block of West Street from 11 am to 4 pm
And for those who are saying we misspelled “Arundel” … read this.
