This year is the first time Barriere and Area Chamber of Commerce have hosted a Best Carved Pumpkin Contest . The Oct. 29 contest was set up “to give all school children a good chance to attend”, by starting at 3:30 p.m. after school, then judging at 4 p.m.
The area in front of the Barriere Chamber of Commerce was decorated in the best scary Halloween fashion with skulls, skeletons, and even an open grave containing a very realistic human skeleton.
It was a bit disappointing for the organizers though that only five children turned out for the contest. However, those that turned out with their carved pumpkins were full of enthusiasm, so after some deliberations by Chamber staff, it was decided to award a prize to every participant.
First prize went to Bobby-Ray Farrow, second place went to Kaiya Sydorko, third place to Grace Farrow, fourth place to Kaiden Sydorko, and fifth place to Curtis Farrow.
“All the kids went home with prizes and lots of candy,” commented Chamber office admin, Lianne Hamblin, “Next year we will expand the competition to include adults as well. That’s because we learned through this year’s event that the big kids want to play too!”
“The Chamber sends out a “big thank you” to all the businesses and individuals who helped us out with our first annual Best Pumpkin contest,” said Hamblin, “Without volunteer supporters and their much-appreciated hands-on help we could not have managed everything. The donations of prizes and candies made it possible for every participating child to go home with big smiles on their faces.”