Erin Colins, of the Trust Dept. at Androscoggin Bank & Michael Smith, special event coodinator, for Camp Sunshine

By Ca rol  McCracken  (Post # 306)

Singer/songwriter Kate Schrock will  perform on the Main Stage at the Pumpkin Festival on Monument Square tomorrow at 12:30 p.m.  A Maine native, she will be the first in a series of musical events schedule for tomorrow afternoon only.  Before the Festival ends on Saturday afternoon, October 17th, thousands of lit pumpkins will have  brightened up the night sky at Monument Square for three nights.

In addition to the musical events on Stage tomorrow, there are planned pumpkin events all day today and tomorrow.  There are pumpkin carvings, pumpkins for sale, pumpkin treats for sale and much more.  Both remaining days culminate with the dramatic lighting of all pumpkins at 6:00 p.m. That’s roughly 2,500 of them.  All proceeds from the Festival go to support Camp Sunshine, Casco.  The Camp is a year-round retreat that provides respite, support, joy and hope to children with life-threatening illnesses and their families through various stages of a child’s illness.  The program is free of charge to all families.

“We are very pleased to be back in Portland this fall.  We haven’t been here since 2003,” said Michael Smith, special event coordinator for Camp Sunshine.  The Festival was held at Deering Oaks Park in 2003.  This year is Camp Sunshine’s 25th anniversary as well.

The Festival is presented by Androscoggin Bank and Investment Center.