Hobart Celebrates Halloween with Annual Pumpkins in the Park Festivities

Hobart Celebrates Halloween with Annual Pumpkins in the Park Festivities

Princesses, superheroes, and monsters of all kinds braved the cold on Saturday as they converged for Hobart’s annual Pumpkins in the Park event at Festival Park. Hobart’s costumed residents enjoyed live music, pumpkin decorating, and trick-or-treating with candy handed out by the city’s local businesses, nonprofits, and Fire and Police departments.

Halloween is a big holiday in Hobart, and Pumpkins in the Park itself has a bit of history to it. It used to be a trick-or-treating event held downtown, but two years ago construction meant they had to move the festivities to Festival Park. Organizers like Nikki Lopez, Director of Events for Hobart, found that the new location worked perfectly. It’s been growing in scope and variety ever since.

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“It actually worked out better,” said Lopez. “Every year we try to add something new. Like this year we added a bucket-train, the ‘Boo-Choo.’ We love to offer something new and exciting every time, and I always have my staff dress up. This year we’re doing The Wizard of Oz.”

Pumpkins in the Park is an opportunity for the residents to experience Hobart’s unique take on Halloween. It offered all kinds of family friendly events like bumper balls, the ‘Boo-Choo’ train, photo-ops, and a live performance by the Code Names, a local teen alt-rock band. As the weather shifts and the leaves fall, it’s one more chance for Hobart to come together as a community in one of the city’s great public spaces. Hobart Mayor Brian Snedecor also came out to meet and greet with the local families.

“I love the way it’s spread out for people to mingle and move about,” said Mayor Snedecor. “You know, the temperature could be a little bit warmer today, but everybody stuck it out and it’s great seeing all the kids coming out to enjoy this. It’s an opportunity we’ve all been striving for, to be a community and a family.”

After the Code Names wrapped up their show, the costume contest took over the Band Shell. Around two dozen participants showed off their costumes and creativity to the gathered crowd. Cake, ladybugs, Disney Princesses, and other characters of all kinds impressed the crowd as winners were chosen by applause. The Sohaney family came dressed as the main cast of Beetlejuice and walked away with the group costume grand prize of summer-long passes to the Hobart Swimming Pool next year. This was the family’s second year taking part.

“We did it last year and won the baby contest,” explained Brain Sohaney. “Things like this drag out the holiday and makes it last instead of it just being one day, you can come out a couple of times!”

And of course, for all the excitement of the event, Halloween itself remains a source of joy for families.

“I’ve just always loved Halloween,” said Alizabeth Sohaney. “I just love to dress-up and do all things creative. I take any chance that I can to be creative, and this brings the community together and gives us all something to do!”