Blackwood Pumpkin Festival features day filled with free, live entertainment

From Country Music to pantomime, the 22nd annual Blackwood Pumpkin Festival, presented by Mainstage Center for the arts, provides festival goers with non-stop family-friendly entertainment. The event, sponsored by Beneficial Bank, Elauwit Media and Today’s Shopper, takes place Sunday, October 6, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. along and around the Black Horse Pike  in Blackwood. Its four stage areas offer something for everyone in addition to the festival’s shopping, games, food, rides, pumpkin painting, and other activities.
            The entertainment line-up includes:

•   Mainstage Center for the Arts Harmony and Encore Show Choirs. Harmony is comprised of high school students, while Encore features middle schoolers. Their professionally-choreographed performances are full of energy and fun music.

• The Dance Company from Mainstage Center for the Arts School of Dance will perform routines that represent some of the different styles of dance offered at the school -- Ballet, Contemporary, Broadway Style, and Hip Hop.

•  Sherry Lynn, Clayton native and Nashville recording artist, has been touring in support of her album “A Beautiful Life.” She has been featured in many Country Music and recording industry publications and websites. Past performances include opening for several well-known artists including Sammy Kershaw, Crystal Gayle, the Oak Ridge Boys, and Gene Watson.

• Megan Knight, singer/songwriter from Southern New Jersey and Muscle Shoals, AL recording artist, has a love for all genres of music. She released her first self-titled EP in September 2012. Megan regularly performs throughout New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania

• Cherry Hill High School East Mime Company. The mimes return to the Pumpkin Festival year after year to entertain audiences without saying a word.

• Karaoke with Jay Shoemaker of Digital Jukebox will encourage the audience get involved in the act.

• DeNogla School of Irish Dance. Dancers from the school’s Oaklyn location will perform crowd-pleasing traditional Irish Dance.

•  DJ Chris Rinaldi, of CMR Entertainment will add to the festivities with music at the railroad tent and sound for the talent contest.

            “This will be the third year that I will be heading back to perform at the Blackwood Pumpkin Festival. It is a great event and so many wonderful people head out through the day to enjoy the festivities. I love being a part of helping out Mainstage Center for the Arts. What Ed Fiscella does to keep the program going for the children is wonderful. I am really looking forward to being a part of this year’s event,” said Sherry Lynn.
            Festival goers can also join in the entertainment by entering a Talent Contest, comprised of pre-registered acts, between 11:30 am – 3:00 pm, or the Costume Parade/Contest at 11:30 am and 1:15 pm at the festival’s Railroad Stage in the park at the corner of West Lake and East Railroad Ave. The talent contest is sponsored by GCV Productions. The registration form/rules for the talent contest are available at www.mainstage.org/pumpkin-festival. The Costume Parade/Contest is sponsored by McDonald’s, Blackwood Clementon Road, Gloucester Township.

Since parking in downtown Blackwood fills up quickly, free parking with a free shuttle bus service to the festival is available at Highland Regional High School, 450 Erial Road, Blackwood, NJ 08012.
            For more information about the Blackwood Pumpkin Festival, visit www.mainstage.org/pumpkin-festival, or call (855) 93 MAINSTAGE, (855- 936-2467).
            In addition to Beneficial Bank , Elauwit Media, and Today’s Shopper, the Blackwood Pumpkin Festival is sponsored by: Farmer’s Insurance; PNC Bank; Bowman and Company; LLP; Joseph W. Bowley, CPA; Castor Auto & Truck Repair; Comegno Law Group, PC; PostNet; Preferred Party Rentals; Blue Skies Electric; Southjersey.com; Drs. Sullivan, Turner LLC, Mayor David Mayer and Gloucester Township Town Council; Senator Madden, Assemblyman Moriarty, Assemblywoman Mosquera; Garden State Discovery Museum; GCV Productions; McDonald’s (Gloucester Township); Billows Electric; Sign & Design; Space Mart; Chews Florist; Rite Aid; Sports Specialties; Blackwood West Development; Blackwood Lake Development, Township of Gloucester; Gloucester Township Chamber of Commerce; Camden County Regional Chamber of Commerce; Camden County College; Gloucester Township Rotary Public Library; New Jersey State Council on the Arts; National Endowment for the Arts.

            Mainstage Center for the Arts, the parent program for Summer Stage, is a 501 © (3) non-profit organization committed to providing a creative, vibrant, and nurturing environment for youth and adults.
            This program is made possible in part by funds from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State, a Partner Agency of the National Endowment for the Arts and by funds from the National Endowment for the Arts. This program is also made possible in part by funds from the New Jersey Cultural Trust.