Final Fall Color and Downtown Bennington Pumpkin Challenge

If you thought you missed all of Vermont's foliage color, you still have one last chance! It is true that peak foliage has passed and the leaves are mostly gone at the upper elevations, but the valleys still are showing lots of color. This is a great time of year to drive along Route 7 from Williamstown, MA, to Bennington. From Bennington, take Historic Route 7A through the towns of Shaftsbury, Arlington, and Manchester. Stop at local farm stands and pick out a pumpkin for Halloween!

Speaking of Halloween, this Saturday is the Pumpkin Challenge in downtown Bennington. Here are the details:

Voted Vermont's #1 Downtown Event for 2009, and the Vermont Chamber of Commerce Top Ten Fall Events for four years in a row!!!

Join us on October 24th for a day full of activities in downtown Bennington. This year St. Francis will be holding their annual Harvest Bazaar on the same day so there will be plenty to do!

12:00 - 8:00PM Store to Store Trick or Treating Dress up the kids and bring them trick or treating in all of our shops and restaurants in the downtown area. The new, safe and fun way to celebrate the holiday. Look for the Bright Orange posters on the door of the businesses that are participating!

12:00 - 8PM Whitman's Hay Maze at Center StageEven the very young one's love Whitman's Hay Maze. Let the kids run through the maze as you take a break from all the activities.

12:30 - 1:30PM Bennington Library Creative Workshop Get the kids ready for the parade at the Library's Workshop. Bring an umbrella to decorate or make and decorate masks. This is a very popular event so call the library for more details. 802-442-9051

2:00PM Costume Parade Everyone is invited to get in line for this whimsical parade down Main Street. Join the fun at the TDBank parking lot when we head down Main Street to the Four Corners, then march up North Street to Pleasant where we turn right and head back to School Street. It's not a long parade so make sure you get in costume and get there early!

3:00 - 5:00PM WalMart Pumpkin Carving Tent Once again our friends at WalMart will be sponsoring the Pumpkin Carving Tent at Center Stage. They are providing pumpkins, carving tools, and helpers for anyone who joins in. Carving will continue until all the pumpkins are gone. After you carve your masterpiece add it to the Center Stage display and maybe you'll win a prize.

7:00 - 9:30PM Bennington Banner Haunted House Be afraid, be very afraid! That's the final warning for those brave enough to enter the world where nightmares are born.

8:30PM "Thriller" Dance Challenge This is it Bennington, we're going to thrill the world once again with this exciting event. This is on the top of the list for family fun! Go to our "Thrill the World" page for all the details and schedules.

9PM - Closing JC's Late-Night Costume Party We did not forget the adults! The pumpkinfest isn't just for kids so get into costume and join the party at JC's. Dance to "Vivid" the exciting and electric dance band. JC's is rewarding all the "Thriller" dancers with NO COVER CHARGE if you show them your registration bracelet.

So... bring your carved pumpkin and join us downtown for thousands of carved, lit pumpkins displayed around Center Stage, dress the kids up in costume and take them Trick-or-Treating from store to store for individual fun events and candy. It's the perfect "safe" way to let your kids enjoy the holiday. The Costume Parade begins at 2PM begins behind TDBanknorth, and the Bennington Free Library Creative Workshop starts at 12:30PM. Don't miss the famous Haunted House at the Bennington Banner, and Whitman's Hay Maze and the Wal-Mart Pumpkin Carving Tent at Center Stage.

Not only do we thrill Bennington with the Pumpkin Challenge, we thrill the world with the worldwide "Thrill the World" Dance Challenge. Last year, Bennington came in ninth place, just behind Los Angeles. In 2009, Bennington will be in the top 3!

For information on how to be involved, contact us at the Better Bennington Corp at 802-442-5758 or stop in at the BBC’s Welcome Center: 215 South Street in Beautiful Downtown Bennington.