Festival to feature pumpkin contest

Sparta — With school now underway and the region's pumpkins nearing harvest time, Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church is planning a pumpkin decorating contest as part of its annual Family Fun Festival, to be held at the Sparta church from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 1. The day-long gala will feature games, food, music, children's crafts, and amusements, including a Moon bounce, petting zoo, pony rides, cake walk and face painting. "Chez Shepherd," the festival's food attraction, will offer barbecue fare, including jalapeno hot dogs, homemade soups, chilies, and desserts. To enter a pumpkin in the contest, entrants should decorate or carve a pumpkin and bring it to Shepherd of the Hills by 11:30 a.m. on the day of the event. Or they can go early and visit the pumpkin painting table to decorate a pumpkin for the contest. Each pumpkin will be labeled and judged at 1 p.m., grouped according to a child's age and based on originality, creativity, effort and detail. Ribbons will be awarded in each age group for the funniest pumpkin, the scariest pumpkin, the prettiest pumpkin and the ugliest pumpkin. The festival will take place rain or shine, at Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church at 246 Woodport Road, Route 181, in Sparta. For information, call 973-729-7010.