Pumpkinhead Festival Weekend in Eliot October 29-30
Fundraiser for the Maine Cancer Foundation
ELIOT, Maine – Pumpkinhead Festival Weekend October 29-30, held at the Regatta Banquet & Conference Center in Eliot, features two days of Halloween and pumpkin filled fun. The weekend schedule of activities includes a Friday night five-course beer dinner featuring Shipyard Brewing Company’s fine ales, a family-friendly festival with scarecrow building, pumpkin tosses and a costume parade as well as a chef cook-off competition Saturday afternoon and an adult Halloween party with a costume contest and live music Saturday night. Proceeds from the Pumpkinhead Festival Weekend will benefit Maine Cancer Foundation.  

All events will be held at the Regatta Banquet & Conference Center, located at 28 Levesque Drive (Route 236) in Eliot.

On Friday, October 29, the Regatta will host a fun and interactive Hops and Harvest Beer Dinner beginning at 6:30 p.m. Guests will enjoy a five-course harvest menu expertly paired with some of Shipyard’s award-winning brews.  Trade brewer Bruce Elam will talk about the beers, the brewing process, and the ingredients. The dinner and beer pairing is $35; seating is limited, reservations are accepted in person at the Shipyard Brew Pub (located next to the Regatta) or through calling (207) 351-4623.

On Saturday, October 30, the Pumpkinhead Family Fun Festival will run from 11:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. Children and adults will enjoy live music, entertainment, food, and activities including a pumpkin hurling contest, cookie decorating, scarecrow building, and pumpkin painting. Musician Dan Blakeslee will entertain the crowd with his humorous and spooky Halloween songs. Children are encouraged to come in costume for a costume parade at 12:15 p.m. This is free and open to the public.

Beginning at 1:00 p.m. the Chefs’ Pumpkinhead Cook-Off will have chefs from the region competing to create enticing appetizers, entrees, and desserts featuring the great flavors of either pumpkins or Shipyard Pumpkinhead Ale. Sampling is encouraged, attendees will vote for their favorite. The Regatta’s own kitchen will also provide delicious tastes of pumpkin foods ranging from savory to sweet and just in time for ordering for the holidays.   Entry to the cook-off is by a suggested donation of $10, in support of Maine Cancer Foundation.

Knowing that Halloween isn’t just for kids, on Saturday evening, beginning at 7 p.m., Shipyard will host a Halloween Party featuring the Beatles Tribute Band All Together Now at the Regatta Banquet & Conference Center.  There will be prizes awarded for the best costumes.  Call (207) 351-4623 for tickets or purchase them in person at the Shipyard Brew Pub.

Halloween will be celebrated all week long; the Shipyard Brew Pub will host a series of Halloween-related activities beginning Monday, October 25, including Halloween trivia and horror movies chosen by pub votes. A full list of activities leading up to the Pumpkinhead Weekend Festival is available online at www.regattaroom.com.