Nationwide to film pumpkin festival

Excitement is building in Virginia as the annual Virginia Pumpkin Festival opens tonight with the 'Forest of Fears' walk, which has been created by local artist Sharon Payne. It starts at 7.30pm through the gates of the Virginia Park Lodge.   
 Mary Kennedy and RTE’s Nationwide will be in the town from 2pm on Sunday to film the weighing in of the giant pumpkins, explore the extensive artisan food and craft fair, soak up the carnival atmosphere around the festival parade and fireworks display and capture some of the 2,000 fancy dress goers who descend on the Pumpkin Dome on Sunday night.
Irish Giant Pumpkin growers have be delivering their pumpkins to Virginia for the hotly contested ‘Giant Pumpkin Weigh-off’. 
An Irish record may be broken by Waterford pumpkin growers John McDonough and Walter Hartrey who say that their giant pumpkin could exceed the 980lbs, which is the current Irish record.   
There are also competitions for pumpkin pies; alternative pumpkins made out of recycled material and the perfect pumpkin – no matter what size.  There will also be pumpkin carving demonstrations.
 In addition there will be fun for all the family over the course of the weekend with the line-up on Saturday including a charity fun run/ walk at 10am: An all day artisan food and craft fair: children’s fancy dress halloween party at 11 and a ‘Pumpkin Walking Treasure Hunt’ through  Virginia at 2pm.
On Sunday the street entertainment starts from 2pm with live music, street entertainers and the highlight of the weekend is the 5pm Grande Festival Parade followed immediately afterwards by a spectacular fireworks display over the shores of Lough Ramor. The Artisan Food and Craft Fair also runs on Sunday. 
Ireland’s largest Fancy Dress Party tops off the Sunday celebrations at the Virginia Pumpkin Festival with over 2,000 party goers arriving into Virginia in elaborate fancy dress attire. 
On Monday night the Monster Bingo Session is back to raise funds for Ramor United’s under age football and Lurgan Ladies football club. The prize fund is a very attractive €3,500.