Local families are invited to wear their Halloween costumes and pick out their very own FREE pumpkins at the Downtown Washougal Pumpkin Harvest Festival on Wednesday, October 21, from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. at Reflection Plaza.
Ripe orange pumpkins ready for carving will be harvested from the City garden plot behind Washougal City Hall for the event. Adding to the fun and community participation, students from Alisa Vail’s first grade class at Gause Elementary worked to start the plant seedlings. Gause principal, Rex Larson, helped to coordinate the effort. City Council members and volunteers then planted and cared for the growing pumpkins to ensure a good harvest in time for the event.
The event has grown this year with the help of the newly formed Downtown Washougal Association. “We are looking forward to having families come downtown and will encourage them to look around and see what is new here,” said DWA President Courtney Wilkinson. The event will include a “Halloween Hunt” taking families to Main Street businesses to find iconic Halloween image posted at the store. For each image they find, they will be given raffle tickets to win several gift baskets of Washougal merchandise. “Businesses will also have candy so the kids can get a jump start on trick or treating fun,” she added, “we hope everyone comes in costume too!”
Rounding out the event will be free refreshments, apples, music and entertainment. It is presented by the City of Washougal and the Downtown Washougal Association.