Its That Time of the Year — P-Fest Time!
Current Tune: Darshan - B21
My hometown, Morton, is known as the Pumpkin Capital of the World and every year we host a Pumpkin Festival (this week Wed.-Sat.) where everyone comes and enjoys all types of pumpkin delicacies:
pumpkin ice cream pumpkin pie pumpkin pancakes pumpkin everything 
carnival rides for all ages, and also different pumpkin contests:
Punkin-Chuckin’ - how far you can throw a pumpkin using a catapult biggest/smallest/fattest/thinnest pumpkins pumpkin decorating you-name-it-we-got-it kind of a thing 
If you think that was enough, there are also 5K, 10K, and marathon races, tennis and golf tournaments, and many other events. The festival highlight and grand finale is on Saturday morning when all 15,000 people of Morton gather on the main streets of the city to watch the biggest parade in Central Illinois. Many different marching bands come from all different schools in the area to participate in the parade competition. Floats are made by many businesses and other social groups based on the festival’s theme to promote their organization as well enjoy with the people of Morton.
Many of my friends, who are out of town for college, come back this week to enjoy the festivities. Its also a great time to see all of your high school friends that you might have lost touch with or haven’t seen in quite some time. Back in high school, this week we would forget all about school work and spend every waking moment after school @ the p-fest (it opens every day after 4). 
Aah those were the days.
I know Beth will be coming home this week sometime to enjoy the fest and will bring her roommates. I am in good hopes to see her on Friday. I think Prasad & Kavita are going to come on Saturday morning to see the parade @ 10.30 am which will be fun.
I also love watching the marching bands in the parade as I was also a participant back in the days with the junior high and high school bands. Because we host the parade, our high school band never participated in the competition. (we would beat the heck out of them anyway :wink:) I will have to dig up some of my parade photos — you won’t even be able to recognize me. 
Alvida. Jai Mata Di.
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September 13th, 2004 at 3:38 pm
Sounds interesting
Have Fun !
September 13th, 2004 at 3:57 pm
September 13th, 2004 at 6:10 pm
This sure sounds like fun. Pictures post kar zara.
September 13th, 2004 at 7:00 pm
Yeh scanner bhi ab tung kar raha hai mere ko.. gotta get a new one soon! Office Max here I come!
September 13th, 2004 at 9:04 pm
Pumpkins?
September 13th, 2004 at 10:57 pm
September 13th, 2004 at 11:38 pm
Didn’t knew americans like pumpkins so much….! Personally, i hate them..
Waise, it sounds real fun.. specially throwing pumpkins… hey wait.. do you have a pumpkin fight as well.. i mean just like in snow ball fight.. we throw snow balls at each other.. kya mazza ayega if we throw pumpkins instead at each other…
September 13th, 2004 at 11:41 pm
So no we don’t throw it @ each other but they do try to see who can throw it the farthest using a catapult.
Its quite fun! With the rides and all, its great for all ages. They have a bit for everyone to do. I forgot to mention the merchants’ tent where they setup this hugee tent and businesses give out free stuff and gifts!
Cool na?
September 13th, 2004 at 11:44 pm
Fundoo!!
Do post some pictures from the event…
BTW, Morton se mujhe Mortien ki yaad aa gayi
(Mortein is a mosquito repellent)
September 13th, 2004 at 11:50 pm
So is it Mortein or Mortien?
You spelled it both ways. 
September 13th, 2004 at 11:58 pm
Mortein….
Gawd.. please mujhe spellings sikha do!!
September 14th, 2004 at 11:08 am
wow…this sounds so coooool…
mez J…me wantz 2 b thr….
September 14th, 2004 at 11:25 am
Thanks for the info. Even we have a Morton Salt brand. No, its not made in my city.
There is also another city in my state, Morton Grove. People get my city confused with them ALL the time, but then we remind them that we are the Pumpkin Capital of the World. 
[Priya] - ya it is really cool and because we are such a small city, the whole town pitches in and helps out. Its really nice how everything is organized and everyone has soo much fun!
September 14th, 2004 at 6:07 pm
How about getting a spell checker for your blog ;)