CLARKS SUMMIT — Glowing eyes and toothy grins,
Green stems and orange skins,
Costumes, candy, bales of hay,
They’re all part of Fall Fun Day.
The Abington Business and Professional Association (ABPA) will host its annual Fall Fun Day in the Abingtons on Saturday, Oct. 29, with activities spread throughout the morning and afternoon at various locations around downtown Clarks Summit and beyond. Admission is free and families can participate in trick-or-treating, a child and pet costume parade and party, live music, pumpkin carving demonstrations, hayrides, complimentary refreshments, crafts and more.
ABPA Executive Director Laura Ancherani described the event as a “one stop shop” to experiencing fall.
“It’s a fun family day to spend in your local community,” she said. “It gives the kids a chance to wear their costumes, trick-or-treat. …You could really spend the entire day doing everything and visiting the stores. I think it’s a nice way to spend the holiday in your community.”
Children and pets are invited to put on their costumes and participate in a parade, which will begin at The Gathering Place (first floor of the Clarks Summit Borough Building) and end at Stately Pet Supply, 515 S. State St. New to this year’s event is an after-parade party, hosted by the pet store. Complimentary goodies will be provided for children and pets.
Diana Lombardi, of the Abington Art Studio, 208 Depot St., will have free Halloween and fall-themed foam crafts and scratch art available for children of all ages between 1:30 and 3:30 p.m. at the studio.
“It’s a simple fall project that the kids can get involved in,” she said.
The artist said this is her fourth or fifth time participating in the festival and she is particularly excited for this year, as it marks the first major event after the recent renovations on Depot Street. Wider sidewalks and new lighting now add to the district’s charm.
“I enjoy being involved in anything that happens downtown. …We’re always more than happy to add to the festivities,” she said.
The event marks the last day people can vote in the ABPA’s Business Scarecrow Competition and enter to win a $100 gift certificate, redeemable at participating businesses.
Professionally carved pumpkins will be on display at a number of area businesses, and Mark Crouthamel, sculptor and owner of Sculpted Ice Works in Lakeville, will present live pumpkin carvings.
Better known for carving ice but still skilled with pumpkins, Crouthamel is the main artisan behind the cold masterpieces displayed each year in the ABPA’s annual Festival of Ice.
He said the main difference between the two mediums is the tools.
“An interesting fact is chainsaws don’t work as good on pumpkins as they do on ice,” he said. “We did try that on the big ones and it’s pretty messy. And you don’t need a tool that aggressive on a soft fruit.”
His favorite pumpkin carving tools are a keyhole saw for cutouts, a single channel zester for etching shapes into the skin of the pumpkins, and a die grinder, which is a power tool with various bits. He said he only uses the latter occasionally, however, as even that can be a little too aggressive on fruit.
Crouthamel said he uses three styles of pumpkin carving. The first is the typical jack-o’-lantern, with shapes cut all the way through the wall of the pumpkin to the hollow center. The second involves etching designs into the outer skin of the pumpkin without cutting all the way through. The third and perhaps most complicated turns the pumpkins into 3D sculptures. There will be some of each of these styles to see at Saturday’s event.
For more information about the ABPA and the Fall Fun Day in the Abingtons, visit TheABPA.com.
