Only in Bucks County: A Newtown Halloween Tradition

I love living in a town that encourages artists, young and old, to paint the town red... oops...  I mean orange and black. 

Every year Newtown hosts the Halloween Art Scene, an event which was created to encourage the spirit of this spooky yet festive season. 

Newtown has been hosting this fun Halloween window painting party for many years. 

Local students and their families are invited to pick up a paintbrush and some acrylic paints and decorate to their hearts content. Store windows along State Street and Sycamore Street are taken over by ghosts and goblins, Frankenstein and friends, and many more of your favorite Halloween characters! 

 

 

 

Strolling down State Street in late October looking at all the colorful, clever and creative Halloween windows is something I never miss. This year over 125 residents grabbed a paintbrush and participated in the Halloween Art Scene, decorating over fifty Newtown windows. 

 

Sandwich shop haunts outside of Becki's Deli ;)

 

 

                                       

 

 

                                         

 

 

 

Nice weather is expected this weekend so you still have a few days to "window shop" and view windows like this one decorated by St. Andrew's Eighth Grade Art Club. 

Walk ins welcome- get it? ;)

 

 

BOO!

Only in Bucks County: Union Street at Halloween

On one Lambertville street,

There awaits such a treat!

Every house-- door to door,

Boasts unbelievable Halloween decor.

Ghouls and ghosts and frightening things 

Mannequins, spiders, and creatures with wings.

It's not your average stuff- it's so unique!

Both humorous haunts and ones that'll make you shriek.

This goes on house after house... it's quite a feat,

Make sure you check out Union Street:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Although mostly everyone in Lambertville puts effort into decorating for the Halloween holiday, 

the most creative creatures are on the residential section of North Union Street.

 

 

The day I walked around it was drizzling. These homemade haunts were smothered with plastic, making them even more terrifying!

 

You can take a ride (or a stroll) past all these magnificently decorated houses now through Halloween. The real fun is at night when many of much of the décor is black light illuminated.
Union Street will be closed to traffic on Halloween night, as over 2,000 trick or treaters are expected!

No hippies allowed ;)

 

 

"There are things about growing up in a small town that you can't necessarily quantify"

~Brandon Routh

 

 

 

Only in Bucks County: Monster Pumpkin Madness

   For me, Fall means choosing a ten to fifteen pound pumpkin and setting it out by the front door-- perhaps with a few mum plants and a festive wreath. For others, Fall is harvest time for the giant pumpkins they have been growing since the first day of Spring. And I don't mean the occasional fifty-pounder that every kid wants to bring home from the local pumpkin patch... some of these puppies weigh close to 1,000 pounds!

Last weekend I attended Monster Pumpkin Madness at Delaware Valley University's farm market. The Market at Del Val is an official weigh station for the Giant Pumpkin Commonwealth, which promotes the hobby of growing giant pumpkins and recognizes growers for their achievement.

Competitors from all over the area brought their prize pumpkins to compete in a weigh-off, and in other categories. We got to see the giant pumpkins up close, and had the opportunity to chat with a few of the growers. 

 

 

 

 

 

The heaviest pumpkin I saw at the weigh in was 952 pounds. Each one had to be carefully forklifted  and placed on the oversized scale, which took time and effort. The Market's manager, Rob Arcidiaonco confirmed that the heaviest pumpkin, which was weighed after I left, weighed in excess of 1,500 pounds! I was also informed by David Fleming, co-owner of The Market at Del Val, that there were state records set that day as well, for New Jersey and Delaware. 

So... the largest grown pumpkin in each of those states was at this interesting event!

 

Here are some photos of Shane Miller's 805 lb pumpkin being moved then weighed,

 from start to finish:

 

 

 

Congratulations Shane!!

 

Giant pumpkin growing isn't just for farmers or experienced growers! These two grew a giant pumpkin too. Their 600 pounder will be donated to a farm near their New Jersey home to help feed the pigs.

Apparently, pigs LOVE pumpkin!

 

John Schevet's 818 pounder!

 

                             Congratulations John!

 

 

The Market at Del Val U offers Fall fun every weekend and of course we enjoyed that along with seeing all of the oversized pumpkins. The highlight of my day was wandering through the giant corn maze right next to the market! Others enjoyed wagon rides through the apple orchards and the animal education tent. It was an afternoon that I think any couple or family would enjoy. Click here for The Market's Fall Fun schedule for the remainder of the season.

  

 

The highly coveted first place trophy

 

"As a spiritual person, nature for me has always been a healing place."

~David Mixner