Washington Borough’s Veterans Park was renamed Pumpkin Park for one day as part of Hometown Halloween sponsored by the Washington Business Improvement District on Oct. 26. Earlier, the Washington Borough Council passed a resolution renaming the park, which is located in Downtown Washington. 

Thirty six hundred pounds of pumpkins and over 6000 orange lights transformed the park into a magical scene for local families. After volunteers gutted all the pumpkins that morning, local families were invited to carve 167 pumpkins to light up that evening. 

Three pumpkins in particular caught the attention of the contest selection committee. Taking first place was Blake Leeds of Washington, second place to Chris Torres, East Rutherford, and third place to Zoey Freeman of  Washington Twp.

Bob Valinski, organizer of Pumpkin Park, described the scene as “happy chaos” as dozens of families spread out to design and carve their pumpkins wherever they could find space. The pumpkins were then lit up at 6 p.m., then families could take them home after the ghost walk tour that evening. The entire event was free to local families.

Hometown Halloween is an annual event sponsored by the Washington BID when local families Trick or Treat at downtown Washington Borough businesses. Pumpkin Park was a new addition this year that included the pumpkin carving, pumpkin illumination along with “Tales of the Borough” ghost walk tour.