Community Corner
Pumpkin Festival Born Out of Detroit
Founder Dave Chew was inspired to start up the now-annual festival during a trip to Motown.
Detroit, birthplace of automobile manufacturing and Motown, has another claim to fame right here in southern New Jersey—providing inspiration for the Blackwood Pumpkin Festival.
Just how did this come about? Twenty years ago, Dave Chew, then proprietor of Chews Florist in Blackwood, traveled to Detroit to watch his son, Dean, compete in a boat race on the Detroit River. An art festival happened to be taking place along the river.
Chew recalls the local Rotary Club serving breakfast, other organizations helping run the event, artists selling their wares and entertainers performing for the crowd.
“I got inspired by how all these people came together to put on a really nice festival,” Chew said. “At the time, we were growing pumpkins at our family farm in Grenloch and I had the flower shop on the Black Horse Pike. I thought that section of Blackwood would make a great location to replicate what they did in Detroit, but, instead of an art festival, as a pumpkin festival.”
Chew, founding member of Blackwood Rotary and Blackwood West Development Corporation, enlisted support from those organizations' members, as well as the Lions Club, to launch the event. He solicited vendors, and booked entertainment. Chew's whole family became involved: wife, Barbara; daughter Debbie, who now runs the flower shop; and sons Dean and David, who now operates the farm.
“They had no choice,” Chew said, laughing. “And, instead of racing boats, Dean drove the tractor for the hayrides. We also had craft vendors, pumpkins for sale, activities for the kids, and entertainment. That first festival all came together perfectly.”
Long-time friend and fellow founding member of Blackwood Rotary Jim Lilley believes it all came together so well because Chew was behind it.
“Dave's very sincere and honest. He's dedicated to the community and interested in people. People like to work with him,” said Lilley.
Chew's commitment to the community continues today, even though he's officially “retired.” He still plants flowers along the Black Horse Pike in front of the Gloucester Township-Blackwood Rotary Public Library, he organizes the Blackwood Farmers Market—greeting customers with a smile and friendly word— and he helps Mainstage Center for the Arts plan the annual Pumpkin Festival.
For many years, Mainstage had provided entertainment at the festival. Then, several years ago, the nonprofit performing arts organization was offered the opportunity to operate the event as a fundraiser.
“I'm just thrilled every year that the festival remains popular,” said Chew. “I figured out that over the years, at least 30,000 children have enjoyed hayrides at the event. It's really been able to continue and grow because of the people at Mainstage.”
Anne Marie Weaver, director of special projects for Mainstage, credits the success to all the years that Chew put in as chief organizer of the event.
Chew shrugs off the praise, saying, “I was born and raised here and wanted to see the town thrive. I figured, the more activities for families, the better. That's all.”
That's all?
“With an expected attendance of 10,000, four stages of entertainment, 200 vendors, pumpkin-painting, hay rides, amusement rides, games, a costume parade and more, festival visitors will see that Dave deserves much more credit than he gives himself,” said Weaver. “The 20th anniversary provides a perfect opportunity to recognize Dave for creating such a wonderful event and to thank him for his dedication to the community.”
During the festival, at about 2:15, Mainstage will honor Chew with a special presentation on the stage in the Rite Aid parking lot.
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The 20th Annual Blackwood Pumpkin Festival, sponsored by Beneficial Bank and Elauwit Media, will be held Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the vicinity of the Blackwood Rotary Library, 15 S. Black Horse Pike.
The Pumpkin Festival is also sponsored by: Holdbrook Pediatric Dental; PNC Bank; Bowman and Company; LLP; Mayor David Mayer and Gloucester Township Council; Joseph W. Bowley, CPA, Denise Christinzio, REMAX; Sen. Fred Madden; Assemblyman Paul Moriarty; Dr. Sullivan & Dr. Turner, LLC; Gloucester Township Chamber of Commerce; Camden County Regional Chamber of Commerce; Blackwood West Development; Township of Gloucester; Camden County College; New Jersey State Council on the Arts; National Endowment for the Arts; Sign & Design; Gloucester Township Rotary Public Library; Rite Aid; Space Mart; Sports Specialties; Valleybrook Country Club; Blackwood Lake Development; Chews Florist; South Jersey Mom; and Aqua New Jersey.
For more information about the 20th Annual Blackwood Pumpkin Festival, visit mainstage.org or call 609-405 -0306.
Stacy Napolitano is Mainstage Center for the Arts' public relations professional.
