ENGLEWOOD, N.J.—On Oct. 26, it was pumpkin paradise inside and out at the First Presbyterian Church of Englewood, where dozens of families flocked to the church’s annual Pumpkin Festival.
The event was organized and directed by Rev. Richard Hong and Felicia Arrigoitia, the church’s director of family ministries. Assisting them was a large group of volunteers, both youth and adult, from the church and the community.
On the lawn, there was a huge array of pumpkins from tiny to tremendous in size. Each child was invited to select a pumpkin from the patch and then join the party indoors where they could carve and decorate it.
Elmore Hall was filled with over 160 people, including dozens of children of all ages with their parents and grandparents.
The joyful celebration included arts and crafts projects, face painting by artist Jamie Saks, and a magic show and balloon sculpting by Summer the Clown.
Another highlight of the day was a birds of prey presentation by naturalist Rosetta Arrigo from the Flat Rock Brook Nature Center. The children squealed with delight as she held a red tailed hawk on her arm and it spread its sizeable wings. Arrigo also showed a Great Horned owl, an Eastern Screech Owl and a Kestrel.
Like any good party, there was plenty of tasty free food and snacks—a Sabrett hot dog stand and cotton candy and popcorn machines manned by volunteers were popular. There were also tables with pumpkin muffins, brownies, clementine oranges, apple cider and coffee.
Throughout the Pumpkin Fest, Hong chatted with congregants and guests as he walked around with his travelling photo booth capturing the fun on an app that the parents can link to and receive photos from the day.
Hong is acclaimed for the warmth and relevance that he brings to his children’s sermons. He knows the name of all of the congregation’s 70-plus children by heart and he embraces each one with great love.
Arrigoitia was enthused about the large number of families who came to this year’s Pumpkin Fest.
“I love the fact that we have an event that creates family memories,” she said.
Hong was also delighted with the robust turnout.
“We’ve had this event for about 13 years and every year, it gets bigger,” he said. “It’s a great opportunity for kids to interact with their parents and siblings. With all the technology in our lives, families today don’t spend enough time together.”
Laughing, he added, “Fortunately, you can’t carve a pumpkin on a screen!”
Photos by Hillary Viders
