Virginia Pumpkin Festival
The Virginia Pumpkin Festival is an annual event held from 2007 to 2019 and since 2021 in the town of Virginia, County Cavan in the Republic of Ireland. The festival takes place every bank holiday weekend at Halloween at the end of October.
== History ==The festival began in 2007 with crowds of up to ten thousand. The festival began on Friday. On Saturday was the pumpkin king and queen competition, won by Avril Soden and Martin Tynan, when contestants representing the public houses in the town were interviewed. On Sunday afternoon, the main event of the festival took place: a pumpkin competition and weigh-in followed by a parade. The winner of the Virginia Pumpkin Competition was Ed Molloy from County Longford.
The events which took place last year in 2007 happened again the following year. Additional events were also added, including a fancy dress Halloween party, kids' treasure hunt, and cookery demonstrations. The Whirlygig Fire parade was followed by a fireworks display. The festival also featured live performances from Shane MacGowan, Sharon Shannon and Mundy. There was also a street performance from the Whirligig theatre group who travelled from County Donegal.
In 2009, Bell X1 performed over the weekend and there was also music from Country music singers Declan Nerney and Philomena Begley.
In 2013, the Festival was launched by famous chef Richard Corrigan. There was no festival in 2020.
http://www.independent.ie/national-news/town-lights-up-for-pumpkin-fete-1510087.html  By Senan Hogan Saturday 25 October 2008
http://www.independent.ie/travel/inside-ireland/10-scariest-halloween-thrillers-1923646.html
By Denise Clarke Monday 26 October 2009  http://www.independent.ie/national-news/thrills-and-spills-at-pumpkin-festival-1924393.html
http://www.independent.ie/national-news/pumpkin-up-the-volume-halloween-festival-fun-1510790.html
== External links ==
Cole P., Hurley J., Great Pumpkins: Tricks and Treats for Halloween, 2003, Chronicle Books.Official website
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