Annual pumpkin walk asks ‘Where in the World?’ as 2018 theme

The 35th annual North Logan Pumpkin Walk is happening at Elkridge Park until Tuesday, Oct. 23. This all-day event features over 700 pumpkins lining the pathway or displayed in various scenes throughout the park.

This year’s theme is “Where in the World?” and a variety of donated displays harken to that theme, including intellectual properties such as Walt Disney’s “It’s a Small World” and Public Broadcasting’s “Carmen Sandiego.”

 “This is really all that any of us do in October,” said coordinator of 10 years, Michelle Weaver.

 The Pumpkin Walk started in 1983 on a farm and occurs towards the later half of October each year. Multiple clubs, businesses and organizations turn pumpkins, squash and other garden vegetables into creative displays for the community to see.

 Gina Worthen, the public relations consultant for the committee, said she has been involved with the event for 22 years and it is a staple for the community.

 “It’s magic. It makes you feel like a kid inside,” Worthen said. “It’s fun for all ages and brings joy to people because it’s a free event and there’s never any advertising in the scenes.”

 Worthen said the Pumpkin Walk is only possible because of the support from the community, which includes hundreds of volunteers and sponsors such as The Cache Valley Transit DIstrict, Lee’s Marketplace, The Cache Valley Hospital, Schreiber foods, Rocky Mountain Power and The City of North Logan.

Megan Nielsen | The Utah Statesman

North Logan hosts its annual Pumpkin Walk at Elk Ridge Park. This year’s theme is “Where in the World”. There are scenes from around the world as well as from a number of different movies. The pumpkin walk goes from Oct 18 to 23. (Megan Nielsen)

 “We help organize the entire thing from scenes to cookies, lighting and even the witches,” said Sally Petersen a committee member who created an expansive “Shrek”-themed scene this year.

 Petersen said the hardest part of creating her scene was hanging Fiona in a 360 degree pose exactly as it is in the film.

“Everyone working on it is afraid of heights and we had to not only suspend her but we also had to make sure she stayed facing forward,” Petersen said. “I really like being with all the people that are on the committee and I love creating a scene. I’m from southern California and I worked at Disneyland so I think my favorite scene this year has to be the ‘It’s a Small World’ scene.”

 The committee members agreed the event is unique because it isn’t a scary event and instead offers a laugh to children and adults alike.

 “We brought our two-year-old to see the scenes and she loves it. We come every year and it has become tradition,” said local resident Scott Eggbert.

 The Pumpkin Walk runs until 10 p.m. Tuesday night when the volunteers start cleaning up the park until the following year.

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@GrahamWoodMedia