The Versailles Pumpkin Show is here!
WANDA ENGLISH BURNETT PHOTO
t seems all of Versailles is in tune to the Versailles Pumpkin Show, well, at least in tune with fall decor. These phone connection boxes have been covered with Debi Black being the featured artist, dressing them up for the occasion. Main Street Versailles, along with the Ripley County Community Foundation are partners in this endeavor. The truck covered box is located at the traffic light in Versailles.
The 2022 Versailles Pumpkin Show will be in full swing this time next week. Everything is in place for the event to run Wednesday, September 21 through Sunday, September 25.
The entertainment is lined up and royalty candidates have been selected and the show is good to go, according to members of the Versailles Lions Club, sponsor of the event. One-ticket ride days are Wednesday and Sunday, with Thursday offering ‘buddy night’. Tickets are still available at various outlets including elementary schools in the area.
Crowning of the 2022 Versailles Pumpkin Show King and Queen will be held just after opening ceremonies on Wednesday evening. Seniors from area schools have been selected (see Pumpkin Show insert for names). This event is sponsored by First Financial Bank and emceed by Ryan Holcomb.
Thursday night the Prince and Princess of the 2022 Pumpkin Show will be crowned with much flair as first graders from area schools take the stage. This has long been one of the highlights of the Pumpkin Show with Wanda Burnett, Publisher of the Osgood Journal and The Versailles Republican interviewing the children. “You just never know what they will say,” she noted.
The evening will continue with seniors from area schools eating pumpkin pie with no utensils! They vie for the coveted title of the most pumpkin pie eaten in one minute! Caution. The crowd roars when the pie eaters are performing.
Thursday during the day there will be a Pumpkin Show Baking Contest sponsored by Main Street Versailles. Goodies may be brought into the Versailles Community Center, 126 North Main Street between 8 and 10 a.m. that morning. Winners will be chosen and announced on the stage that night. A bake sale will be held on Thursday at noon and again at 5:30 p.m.
Tyler Brindley Acoustic Hits will be on stage that evening from 8:15 until 9:45 p.m.
Friday night the rides will open at 5 p.m. with live music by Julia Neville on stage from 6-9 p.m.
At 10 a.m. on Saturday morning the parade will take place with the weighing of the giant pumpkins to follow. More fun activities have been planned for the day with Rick K and The Allnighters taking the stage at 7:30 p.m. This group is a favorite among Pumpkin Show goers and feature 50s and 60s style music and much more.
Sunday will dawn with a community church service at 11:30 a.m. with the rides open for one ticket only from 1-5 p.m. Cathy Reynolds will provide great gospel music at 1:30 p.m.
Members of the Versailles Lions Club and other volunteers work all year long to bring the oldest pumpkin festival in the state to Versailles.
Look for the Versailles Lions Club tent where they will be selling t-shirts at the Farmer’s Market on the square on Saturday, September 17.
