By Maggie Susa, The Herald-Dispatch
KENOVA, W.Va. — About 1,500 pumpkins were delivered to the Pumpkin House on Monday, marking the start of its annual autumn transformation. The rest of the gourds will arrive over the next two weeks.
Volunteers are welcome to come Oct. 19-25 to scoop and carve the pumpkins that will adorn the house on Beech Street. The goal will be to scoop, carve, rinse, place and light 500 pumpkins each day to have all 3,000 lit for the main day of C-K AutumnFest, which is Oct. 26. Carving is a volunteer opportunity for individuals, families, church groups and sports teams; everyone is welcome.
“It’s quite a marathon, but it always seems to work out and the volunteers are wonderful to help us get it done,” said Ric Griffith, owner of the Pumpkin House.
The pumpkins come from Rocky Knob Farm in Prichard, West Virginia. Jason Ekers, owner of the farm, said growing almost any crop was difficult this year because of the drought, but he said they focused on making sure the pumpkins were successful because he knows Griffith is counting on them. They also hand-wash all the pumpkins with bleach water before delivering them to prolong their display life by preventing disease. It also makes them look nicer, he said.
