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News and Upcoming Pumpkinfest Events

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  • Join the Team - Full time summer position.
    April 17, 2025 | 0 comments

    Job Posting: Assistant to Pumpkinfest Coordinator

    Position: Assistant to Pumpkinfest Coordinator, Full time, 35 hours per week throughout the summer

    Location: Port Elgin, ON

    Application Deadline: June 15, 2025

    About Us

    Pumpkinfest is a vibrant annual event in Port Elgin, dedicated to celebrating the autumn season and fostering community spirit. We are also responsible for the administration and logistics of the Saugeen Shores Event Resource Centre (SSERC), which provides essential equipment and resources to local non-profits and charity festivals. Our team is passionate about creating memorable experiences and supporting community events.

    Position Overview

    We are seeking a dynamic and organized individual to assist the Pumpkinfest Coordinator with a variety of logistics and administrative tasks. This role is ideal for someone who is enthusiastic about event planning, community engagement, and has a knack for managing multiple responsibilities.

    Key Responsibilities

    • Inquiries Management: Answer inquiries via phone, email, internet, social media, and walk-ins to the office location.
    • Website Management: Focus on updating, organizing, and revamping our website, www.pumpkinfest.org, in collaboration with our marketing and social media consultants.
    • Social Media Assistance: Aid in creating social media posts and providing insights.
    • Event Representation: Represent Pumpkinfest and general tourism; assist in the logistics and staging of the Wednesday Downtown Farmers Market.
    • Communication: Communicate with and attend meetings with volunteers, non-profits, and sponsor partners.
    • Meeting Attendance: Attend various meetings and industry events with the coordinator.
    • Office Administration: Help administer day-to-day office operations and represent Pumpkinfest in a professional manner.
    • SSERC Coordination: Facilitate and arrange weekly pick-ups and returns for the Saugeen Shores Event Resource Centre and monitor the sserc.com website for orders.

    SSERC Overview

    The SSERC is a volunteer-driven initiative that supports local non-profit and charity festivals by providing an extensive inventory of event equipment. This includes stage sections, tables, chairs, children’s games, casino games, electrical equipment, and presentation tools. With over 40 local events and organizations utilizing the SSERC, it becomes especially busy during the summer months.

    Qualifications

    • Transportation: Ability to travel throughout the municipality is an asset.
    • Independence: Ability to work independently and interact with the public effectively.
    • Communication Skills: Strong verbal and written communication skills.
    • Organizational Skills: Excellent organizational abilities and attention to detail.

    How to Apply

    If you’re passionate about event planning and community engagement, we’d love to hear from you! Please send your resume and a cover letter detailing your relevant experience to by June 15, 2025

    Join us in making the next Pumpkinfest the best one yet!

    Contact:

    The Pumpkinfest Team

    Email:

    Phone:519-389-3714

    Website: www.pumpkinfest.org

    Equal Opportunity Employer: Pumpkinfest is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status.

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  • Port Elgin Pumpkinfest Recognized with THREE 2023 Festival and Events Awards!
    March 10, 2023 | 0 comments

    Port Elgin Pumpkinfest is proud to be the recipients of three Festival and Events Awards at the recent FEO Conference!

    They are:

     

    Niagara Falls, Ontario (March 8, 2023) Festivals and Events Ontario (FEO) is proud to announce the 2023 Top 100 Festivals & Events in Ontario. These Top 100 recipients represent festivals and events that excel within the industry.

    Submissions from FEO members were received for consideration in the fall of 2022 and were judged by an independent panel of judges. Festivals and events of all kinds from every corner of Ontario were represented in the submissions – from community festivals to internationally recognized events.

    We congratulate all recipients and are proud to be named among them!

     

    Pumpkinfest was proud to partner with Port Elgin Home Hardware to present a 2022 Spring "Grow With Us" promotion to encourage gardeners of all ages and caliber to join in the fun of growing a garden - whether a GIANT or just a small vegetable garden.  Not only did this innovative partnership promote environmental stewardship, but it also gave youth the chance to experience the joy of growing their own vegetables and being front and center on our main stage, We are extremely pleased with this recognition and will continue this programming in future years.

     

    At the Awards Ceremony on March 8, our own very surprised coordinator, Joanne Robbins, was called to the stage to accept induction into the FEO Hall of Fame for 2023.

    "I am honoured and humbled to accept this award and join the 47 Hall of Fame recipients." states Robbins.  "I've been very blessed with creative Board members, a supportive community  and a Municipality that goes above and beyond to help stage this festival."

    Port Elgin Pumpkinfest has been a member of FEO since it's beginning and must give credit to this great organization for offering the learning and education support to the industry.  They have certainy aided us in our ongoing success!

     

     

    Links to all the  FEO Announcments of Awards can be found HERE!

     

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  • Festivals and Events Ontario recognizes Port Elgin Pumpkinfest!
    April 11, 2022 | 1 comment

     

    April 11, 2022 - Port Elgin. 

    Port Elgin Pumpkinfest is very pleased to announce that it is the recipient of a 2022 FE0 (Festival & Events Ontario) Achievement Award. Our "Best of Both Worlds" event in 2021 was a win for the whole community.

     

    Even more exciting this year is that our own Connie Barker is  the recipient of the coveted FEO Volunteer of the Year Award. Announcements were made at the recent virtual FEO Conference.

    FEO states "The dedication it requires to successfully organize and execute some of the best festivals and events in the world takes more than great ideas and collaboration; it takes rolling up your sleeves, digging deep into the community for support, and rounding up volunteers to make it a success!"

    Connie Barker is well deserving of recognition for her long-standing and undying commitment to Port Elgin Pumpkinfest.  Connie has been involved since the very first Port Elgin Pumpkinfest 35 years ago, and since that time has been paramount in the growth and maintainance of this event.  Connie is the volunteer that says "Why not?" instead of "We can't."  From ideas like underwater pumpkin carving, kids pajama parties to the pet show on Sundays - Connie helps to bring these ideas to fruition to great success and always plays a supportive role.  Connie is not just a "weekend warrior", but attends all planning and logistical meetings - her input is very valuable, as her history allows her to give the team unique insights into the past, present and future of the festival.  In her history with the event she has held almost every job or committee lead we have created.  From Secretary to Vendor Director to Logistics of the weigh off - she has done it all, always with a smile and a laugh.  She is one of those volunteers that needs no direction and jumps in to help in any capacity - from picking up garbage, to handling the vendor concers, she does it all.

    Connie maintains a great relationship with all the volunteers and helps recruit all year long!  She has recruited volunteers that were students, and have stayed on to be chairpersons and even presidents.  Connie has mentored every staff person throughout the last 35 years and is the first to step up should they need assistance.  
    Connie's family also joins her in many capacities on the weekend - from delivering food to volunteers to helping put up fencing, the Barker Family is there for us.
    We are proud to work with such an enthusiastic volunteer and look forward to continuing our work with Connie!

    The theme for the 2022 FEO Conference was "ENERGIZE" with the key words RECONNECT . REIMAGINE . REFOCUS. All speakers, education sessions, networking opportunities etc were geared towards building our festival and event industry back to where it was before the Pandemic and using what we have learned over the last two tears to improve user experiences, streamline operations and present a safe event for our customers.

    We wish to congratulate Owen Sound for recognition of their Harbour Nights and Music at the Market events.  You can see all the award winners at: https://www.festivalsandeventsontario.ca/about/feo-award-recipients.

     

     

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