Pumpkin Pirates take over Howell's for Halloween

Kracken Leaves the Sea for Howell's Pumpkin Farm

By Brandy Ford

Read the story on the Metroland Media Site

Addison Scapillati,4, can’t help but smile
as she picks out a pumpkin at Howell’s Pumpkin Farm
 on Saturday. Pumpkins of all shapes,
sizes and colours are available, and
there is no charge to enter the market place.

Shiver me timbers- the legendary kraken and a band of pirates have left the ocean in search of pumpkins and apple cider.

The colossal creature has taken residence at Howell’s Pumpkin Farm as part of their traditional Halloween display. The farm features a different theme each year, and this year the kraken took centre stage.

“Last year our alley was a pirate alley and it did really well. A lot of our customers seemed to really like it. So, we decided to do the pirate alley with the big kraken at the top of the hill this year,” says Howell’s assistant manager, Skylar Bough.

She says the response from visitors has been “amazing” and the giant kraken is a huge hit.

“We’ve gotten a great response from people and they seem to really like it. A lot of the kids kind of get a fright from it, but not in a bad way. It’s pretty juvenile. They like it,” she says. “I’ve gotten a lot of comments about the eyes. The kids like the kraken’s eyes.”

A brontosaurus made entirely of pumpkins
keeps a close eye on Colours the Clown
as she creates balloon art for children
at Howell’s Pumpkin Farm on Saturday.

Bough says work on the display begins around June with the building of scarecrows and then they keep adding things all season long. There are a core group of people brainstorming ideas about for the next year as soon as the current season ends.

“Right after the season ends we’re already thinking about next season. (We) brainstorm all winter about whatever comes to our minds and what we think would be possible. We always know by the summer what (the theme) will be because that’s when we need to start doing our display.”

She says the kraken theme is one of the biggest hay displays they have ever created, and, along with that, Howell’s also has other displays throughout the farm. Some displays are returning favourites, such as the “classic scarecrows that everyone loves” and the witches, mobster pumpkins and 1812 pumpkin men.

“People also seem to get a kick out of the port-a-potty guy too. He’s a great photo op so we keep him every year as well.”

The display is open to visitors until October 30^th.