Having spent most of my life in Tallahassee, I can honestly say that there is never a time to be bored. Our weekends are well thought out with trips down one of the many bike trails, a picnic at one of the parks, visiting a historical site or participating in one of the many community events that go on year round. Fall seems to offer limitless opportunities of fun with all the fall festivals, walks for amazing charities plus it is a chance to enjoy the outdoors when it is below 90 degrees. Personally it is my favorite time of year because the leaves are changing colors, the mosquitoes are long gone and our activities do not require me to wear a bathing suit which is great. I swear our entire summer revolved around cooling off in water and being told by my teenagers how uncool my skort bathing suit was! No fashion worries during the fall, because I can wear a sweater, hide my mommy muffin top and feel good!!!
This past weekend we took our annual trip to neighboring Havana for the 12th Annual Pumpkin Festival. When we first started going my oldest daughter was four and we pulled her and her two year old sister around in a wagon while pushing my one month old son in a stroller. I quickly fell in love with the charming little town of Havana and the festival. The streets are closed off and you can stroll (and I mean literally push a stroller) through the street and look at the vendors exhibiting their arts and crafts. There are pony rides, face painting and train rides for the kids. A pumpkin patch that is perfect for pictures of your little ones. The children are encouraged to wear their costumes for the costume parade and that first year I had Tinkerbell, Cinderella and a little, bitty pumpkin with me. I knew after that first time we would be starting a family tradition of going to the Havana Pumpkin Festival.
Twelve years and three additional kids later, the family tradition continues. While we were there this past Saturday it struck me how much the festival and my children have grown. The once tiny festival has grown so much. Tons of costumed children swarmed the streets. All of the games and activities cost a dollar or two to play, but that money goes to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. It felt really good to watch the crowds of people purchasing tickets and to think how this charming little town is raising money for such a great cause. In addition to the costume contest for children there is also now one for dogs. The dogs were so cute in their costumes that for a minute my children almost convinced me that we needed to get a new dog!!! My once tiny Tinkerbell and Cinderella have now grown into teenagers who roll their eyes at me when I asked if they wanted to dress up. My itty, bitty pumpkin is now a 6'2" lineman who towers over me. And this once tiny festival has grown into a full blown fall festival with so many people attending that this year they ended it with a big concert featuring Pat Jackson and Tobacco Road.
The Havana Pumpkin Festival has grown from a small, local event to one that people come from near and far to attend. And just like my kids growing up, the Havana Pumpkin Festivals growth seemed to happen in the blink of an eye.
Tags: Festival, Havana, Outdoor, Pumpkin, Tallahassee
Blythe NewsomeBlythe Newsome is a single mother of six children ages 6,8,10,12,14 and 16. While a morning radio show host, her family was featured on an episode of the Supernanny in 2007. The reality of this single mom who spends her days getting GI Joes out of the toilet, explaining to her girls that you can not cut your hair like you do your Barbie’s, convincing herself that ketchup on a hotdog counts as a vegetable and letting America see what hides underneath her couch cushions made her family one of “America’s Most Asked About Families” from the show according to producers. ABC came back to film the 100th episode which aired in March 2010. When not playing the role of nurse, teacher, chef, referee, taxi driver, coach, or housekeeper, she writes a syndicated column called Flirting with Forty.
“As a Tallahassee native, I am passionate about this city, raising my children here and I am always searching for new adventures for us. When people think about a vacation, this is the place to come. The city is rich in history, annual events and provides people of all ages with something to do”. Each week Blythe and her children will share with you the stories and pictures of the adventures that are waiting for you in Tallahassee!
