Lincoln Memorial Picnic Grounds was a busy spot this week as families attended Illinois Extension’s fifth annual Pumpkin Extravaganza event. Over 115 attendees came out to the park to learn about pumpkins, taste pumpkin treats, make pumpkin crafts, and play games. Twelve different stations offered many engagement opportunities for families. Staffed by Master Gardeners, Master Naturalists, Extension staff, and community partners, all activities centered around pumpkins. This event celebrates Illinois as the top-pumpkin producing state. Youth learned how to make mini-catapults with popsicle sticks and spoons, in preparation for Extension’s upcoming Pumpkin Smash event on November 8 from 10am-2pm at the Jackson County Extension office at 402 Ava Road, Murphysboro, IL. This fun, educational event offers an opportunity for you to compost your pumpkins. The City of Jonesboro offered train barrel rides for the kids, while the Jonesboro Public Library offered a craft and face painting station. SNAP-Education shared recipes and nutritional information about pumpkins and squash, and participants had the chance to taste test pumpkin muffins. Union County Farm Bureau offered pumpkin pie in a bag, while Arrowleaf helped participants decorate pumpkins. Volunteers led craft stations and those that explored the different parts of a pumpkin and the many different varieties of pumpkins. Participants had the chance to learn if pumpkins sink or float, and they also learned that pumpkin seeds float if they are not viable, meaning they will not germinate if planted, and they sink if they are viable and can be expected to germinate. This is one way to test seeds that you may have left over from a previous year prior to planting. Participants also played games hosted by 4-H and read It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown, offered as a StoryWalk by Stinson Memorial Library. Pumpkin Extravaganza is held every year on the second Monday of October – make plans to join us next year!
SOURCE AND WRITER: Erin Garrett, 618-524-270, emedvecz@illinois.edu
University of Illinois Extension develops educational programs, extends knowledge, and builds partnerships to support people, communities, and their environments as part of the state's land-grant institution. Extension serves as the leading public outreach effort for University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences in all 102 Illinois counties through a network of 27 multi-county units and over 700 staff statewide. Extension’s mission is responsive to eight strategic priorities — community, economy, environment, food and agriculture, health, partnerships, technology and discovery, and workforce excellence — that are served through six program areas — 4-H youth development, agriculture and agribusiness, community and economic development, family and consumer science, integrated health disparities, and natural resources, environment, and energy.