For More Information, Contact: Sheri Moretz, Community Relations Manager Mast General Store Highway 194 Valle Crucis, NC 28691 828-963-6511 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 6th Annual Valle Crucis Punkin Festival Slated for October 22nd The sixth annual Valle Crucis Punkin Festival is scheduled for Saturday, October 22nd. This year the festival is in a new location, the Valle Crucis Elementary School, just a rock’s throw from the previous site of punkin fun. Festival hours are 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. The Valle Crucis Punkin Festival is a kid-friendly event with games, entertainment, crafts, food, and punkin carving. The games are a hodgepodge of old-fashioned offerings that involve both skill and luck. Younger children will enjoy playing them, and they are challenging enough for older kids, too. “We’re excited about our new location,” said Hollie Storie, one of the organizers of the Punkin Festival and an employee at the Western Youth Network. “We have more space to incorporate the old-fashioned games along with new experiences for kids, like Bouncy Houses.” Some of the games may be familiar from the carnival midway and fall festivals from long ago like Apple Bob, Punkin Sack Races, Go Fish, Punkin Bowling, and Hoop-La. “The greatest thing at the festival is kids and parents, and grandparents, working together carving punkins and the laughter and smiles from the games,” continued Storie. Of course, no festival is complete without food, crafts, and music. This year’s festival will feature stained glass artists, face painters, jewelry and more. Plans include having several interactive booths where kids can learn about wildlife and enjoying the outdoors. Ital Acoustic, a local Reggae band, is donating their talents to entertain festival-goers and is sure to have everyone jammin’. What would a Punkin Festival be without punkins? “The foundation of the festival is our no-muss, no-fuss punkin carving area,” laughed Beth Shuford, a festival organizer from Valle Crucis School. All punkins to be carved will already have the seeds and pulp removed. All you have to do is come up with a design and carve away. “Our friends at the Mast Store came up with a great system over the years and discovered that a Shop Vac is an invaluable tool for the success of this festival.” These punkins will be available for a donation. The Western Youth Network (WYN) is partnering with the Valle Crucis Elementary School PTSA to put on the festival. Proceeds will be split between the two groups. WYN serves families in Ashe, Avery, and Watauga Counties, providing good role models for kids and providing them a safe place to grow. The Valle Crucis School PTSA helps round out the educational experience by supporting teachers and students to make learning fun and engaging. Game tickets will be three for $1 and can be used for playing the games. Commemorative festival t-shirts will be available on site, as will bake sale items and hot cider and cocoa. Of course, this question begs for an answer – Why punkin? Once you attend the festival, the answer is quite evident. It’s because “punkin” is so much more fun than “pumpkin.” Volunteers from WYN and Valle Crucis School PTSA hope you’ll come out for “carvin’ for a cause” on October 22nd. For more information on the festival, call the Western Youth Network at 828-264-5174, Valle Crucis Elementary School at 828-963-4712, or visit www.PunkinFestival.com. The Valle Crucis Punkin Festival is sponsored by the Mast General Store.