Pumpkins in the Park Festival

Lake Fairfax Park will be the hub of harvest season fun  with hayrides and carousel rides to pumpkin painting and a giant slide.

Festival highlights include viewing the park’s brilliant fall foliage from the comfort of a tractor-pulled hay wagon. Children will play in the moonbounce, toss footballs, shoot hoops on an inflatable basketball game, and putt on portable miniature-golf greens. Rides on the antique carousel are included with admission.

 Staff will demonstrate outdoor adventure classes available at the park such as mountain biking and camping. Vendors will provide food to purchase. Face painters may provide inspiration for pumpkin painters. Visitors can compete for prizes in a costume contest to be held at 3 p.m.

The $10 admission fee to this family-friendly event includes a small pumpkin to paint. The cost is $8 for those who don’t require a pumpkin.

A special Pre-school Pumpkins and Puppets program will be held before the festival from  10 a.m. to noon. Children can paint pumpkins and have their faces painted while watching a puppet show.

A costume contest will be held at noon, and prizes will be awarded. Children must be accompanied by a registered adult. The $5 fee includes a small pumpkin. To register for this program, enter code 8354825201 at http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/parktakes.

Lake Fairfax is also holding a pumpkin sale on October 22 and 23. Visitors may purchase a small pumpkin for $5, a medium pumpkin for $8, or a large pumpkin for $10.