18 replies to this topic

[WolfMom]

Came home just now from night of 1,000 (more like a couple hundred) Pumpkins and really bummed. Mourning the loss of a lovely small-town feel event to a vendor-fest-corporate-six-flags-shuffle-folks-through-a-crazy-carnival monstrosity.

 

The event used to be centered around the wonderfully carved pumpkins. Visiting the smalls shops on Sutter Street. The streets used to be magical; lined with luminous creations from the community. The jaded carnie feel of what is has now become was depressing and we made an excuse to get our son out as soon as he finished his $3 (THREE DOLLAR) 2 minute bounce house stint. Today is his fifth birthday and we thought it would be a fun way to highlight the day for him. What this event has now become...

 

The vendors seemed to steal the show from the actual merchants on Sutter Street (who have to buy bags upon bags of candy only to be treated rudely by the jostling crowds) and completely eclipsed the pumpkins (a few smattered here and there and a sad lump of a little display near the Empty-your-wallet bounce houses. WHERE WERE ALL THE PUMPKINS THIS EVENT WAS NAMED AFTER?!?!

I guess this has what we have become. "Progress" and "Growth". Oh, well. Folsom has to keep growing right? It made me so sad. I will no longer take my family to this "family" event.

[ducky]

That's so sad to hear.  I was really bummed I didn't get down there tonight.  This was the first year I didn't carve any pumpkins and bring them down. I only realized it was tonight because Steve posted it here.

 

The thing about some people (definitely not all) being rude to the businesses handing out candy isn't new.  The businesses on East Bidwell used to do the trick-or-treat thing on Halloween night, but it eventually got to be too much of an inve$tment in candy and the crowds got ruder and ruder and pretty soon it faded away.  Same with Sutter St.  They used to do a Halloween costume contest and trick-or-treating on the Saturday before Halloween.  Same thing.  More "gimmees" and less "thank yous."  It's unfortunate, but seems to be a cycle.

[john]

We hit 1000 this year. I would know, we carved 700 of them at Intel.
I know I had a lot of fun, I'm sorry you were disappointed. I thought this year was the best yet.
We about tripled the pumpkins from last year, perhaps you were in the wrong spot...

[4thgenFolsomite]

I think people miss the pumpkins being spread out throughout the district, rather than bunched in one place.

Actually the people trick or treating are usually very polite with lots of thank yous. Hats off to the businesses down there for doing this event. Please try to remember to support these small businesses whenever you can, and not just the restaurants and pubs. It gets harder and harder for the shops to compete with the big boxes, but sutter street really has some unique stores and things for sale..

Good feed back on too many vendors. It is supposed to be small town and doesnt need a carnival atmosphere.

[Steve Heard]

I took my wife and neighbor down there and thought it had to be a great experience for the kids. Candy, crowds, costumes, characters, being out at night, movies, bounce house, it had it all!

 

It was pretty crowded, and we ended up at "It's Persona' wine bar. They had live music and of course, wine.

 

I think it's naturally gotten bigger, and you have to have vendors and entertainment for a crowd that size. 

 

It's come a long way. Good job John and everyone else involved.

 

[WolfMom]

I don't know. I would like to ask the folks on here. If Night of 1,000 Pumpkins were just pumpkins and visiting the shops on Sutter Street. If there were no vendor booths. Would you still go?

[rip]

Took the kids down and had a good time.  Went early for pizza at Pizzeria Classico and started the rounds right at 6.  The vendors didn't bother me, but much preferred checking out all the cool shops.  I've been to Sutter St. quite a few times since we moved to town, but didn't realize how many little places are tucked away down there.  Despite the crowd, I thought folks were polite and having fun.  Heard lots of thanks yous.  Think it would be cooler if the pumpkins were lined up on Sutter, but with the crowd not sure if that would be feasible.  Regardless, we'll be back next year.

[Steve Heard]

Think it would be cooler if the pumpkins were lined up on Sutter, but with the crowd not sure if that would be feasible.  Regardless, we'll be back next year.

 

The were problems when they lined the street. Among them, getting kicked over or tripped over, and unless you were a small child, you'd have to stoop to see them. Also, with it stretching for a couple of blocks, it looked like 'night of a some pumpkins on the ground'. 

[ducky]

I don't know. I would like to ask the folks on here. If Night of 1,000 Pumpkins were just pumpkins and visiting the shops on Sutter Street. If there were no vendor booths. Would you still go?

I didn't go this year so I'm not sure what the vendors looked like or what type of vendors they were.  It seems they would be taking up space and obstruct the flow.  

 

I would prefer just pumpkins, hay bales, and costumed trick-or-treaters.  The movie seems really popular.  

 

I liked it better when the pumpkins lined the street. That was really the only reason I'd wander down was to check out the carvings.I don't have to push a stroller or worry about someone wanting to trick or treat, and so I'd usually go in the shops and look for gift ideas and pick up a thing or two. I heard Pizzeria Classico was selling by the slice, which is a really good idea.  La Rosa Blanca seems to get a lot of business from families either on their way grabbing an early bite or on their way out.

 

I know some people would feel bringing your own carved pumpkin down would be a pain, but I liked participating.  Last year, though, I felt like they didn't really need mine and the pumpkins were more of an Intel thing.  I'm not knocking Intel.  They are so good about participating in the community, and there is no way there would be near enough pumpkins to line the street if they didn't make such a commitment.  I think it's wonderful they took the time to carve 700 pumpkins. Wow, that's a lot of carving!  Transporting must have been interesting unless they did it onsite.

 

I guess I'm trying to say I'd like it to stay as more of a hometown feel than one of the Cal Expo white-tent-vendor atmosphere if that's indeed where it's heading.

[supermom]

I don't know. I would like to ask the folks on here. If Night of 1,000 Pumpkins were just pumpkins and visiting the shops on Sutter Street. If there were no vendor booths. Would you still go?

no

[4thgenFolsomite]

lots and lots of people came when it was just an afternoon of trick or treat in the stores and no other attractions.

[john]

It's a very fine line with vendors. People need to eat. Without food vendors, the lines are atrocious. Hungry people + crowds = bad news. The lines were still plenty long, but at least it was spread out. I think they did a good job of having food and a few night/Halloween booths.
The restaurants were all packed that night. They did not lose business that night, it is one of the busiest nights of the year for them.

As for pumpkins, we were a little afraid that the high pumpkin count from Intel would discourage others. The simple fact is, thousands show up and few bring pumpkins. I would love to host an all day carve on Sutter Street, but the Historic District is not interested in hosting it. If we want a Night of 1000 Pumpkins, we can't really do it without help from businesses or orgs. I am happy to organize the carveathon at Intel and feel fortunate to have had help to make it happen! The pumpkins are there because of a few dozen people who spent a full day carving pumpkins! :-)

Personally, I loved the event! I am proud that I started it and continue to play a vital role in it. We grow and change every year, it's my opinion that change is a very good thing.

[4thgenFolsomite]

It's a very fine line with vendors. People need to eat. Without food vendors, the lines are atrocious. Hungry people + crowds = bad news. The lines were still plenty long, but at least it was spread out. I think they did a good job of having food and a few night/Halloween booths.
The restaurants were all packed that night. They did not lose business that night, it is one of the busiest nights of the year for them.
As for pumpkins, we were a little afraid that the high pumpkin count from Intel would discourage others. The simple fact is, thousands show up and few bring pumpkins. I would love to host an all day carve on Sutter Street, but the Historic District is not interested in hosting it. If we want a Night of 1000 Pumpkins, we can't really do it without help from businesses or orgs. I am happy to organize the carveathon at Intel and feel fortunate to have had help to make it happen! The pumpkins are there because of a few dozen people who spent a full day carving pumpkins! :-)
Personally, I loved the event! I am proud that I started it and continue to play a vital role in it. We grow and change every year, it's my opinion that change is a very good thing.

John, who sponsors and organizes it?

[Homer]

I would like to bring my son to this event, However it's always scheduled on the same night as the Halloween parties at the schools. Does anyone take this into account when the date is picked ? 

[john]

The Historic District sponsors and organizes the event. My role is mainly to organize a pumpkin drive and help promote the event.

The date is always Friday before Halloween... there are always competing events, it's the nature of the holidays.