Get Ready for the FishHawk Pumpkin Festival

Fall is just around the corner and, one of the area's annual harbingers of the season is the FishHawk Ranch Pumpkin Festival.

This year's festival will take place from 3-8 p.m. Oct. 15  at Park Square in FishHawk Ranch.

The day begins with a pumpkin-carving contest starting at 9 a.m. There will be 500 pumpkins on site for residents to carve.

With the opening of the FishHawk Tennis Club at 15921
Courtside View Dr. in Starling, organizers have added a tennis tournament with adult/child teams to this year's lineup, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Call 813-681-4000 for details.

A variety of activities and games for kids of all ages is on tap from 3-7:30 p.m. at Park Square, including face painting, and hayrides. Tickets will be available for cash purchase at 2:30 p.m.

Also on tap is a Treat Street, with local vendors and businesses handing out goodies, will begin at 3 p.m.

A free concert featuring The Go Daddies is slated from 5-8 p.m.

Then, at 8 p.m., the carved pumpkins will be lighted for residents to enjoy.

Admission is free but food, drink and game tickets will be available for purchase, and 50 percent of the proceeds benefitting the local YMCAs and Feeding America, Tampa Bay. Residents also are encouraged to bring a nonperishable food item to donate to Feeding America.

For sponsorship information, email Lynda McMorrow at lmcmorrow@newlandcommunities.com.

For more information on the Pumpkin Festival, visit the event website.