Showstopping performances by the brilliant Grinn & Barrett will mesmerize festivalgoers of all ages with their array of amazing magic tricks and fabulous feats of skill on the Safeway Family Stage at the Half Moon Bay Art & Pumpkin Festival, October 18-19 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Main Street. Visitors can be part of the “show” themselves by participating in the popular pumpkin carving contests and pie eating contests. Homegrown artistic talent takes center stage at “The Golden Gourds”, a youth talent showcase. It’s all happening in the Bank of America Family Fun Zone, located in the Bank of America parking lot, 620 Main Street.

Grinn & Barrett Pumpkin carving contest Pumpkin pie eating contest

Kids of all ages will be thrilled and enchanted by dynamic duo Grinn & Barrett. The internationally renown pair is made up of Katrine Grinn from Copenhagen and Mitchell Barrett from New York, who together have been delighting audiences all around the world since 1988 with their perfect blend of comedy and skill. These masters of mayhem perform all sorts of incredible feats, like juggling pins, knives, or flaming brands, tightrope walking, and 6-foot-tall unicycle riding. Then they do them all at once, all while maintaining a steady stream of rapid fire comedy and hilarious audience involvement. Their dynamic and original show has made them a not-to-be-missed Pumpkin Festival favorite.

Festivalgoers will have plenty of opportunities to be part of the show. Show off your creative flair at the Pumpkin Carving Contest, Sunday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Some contestants take the contest quite seriously, spending hours perfecting their art piece. Others come back to participate year after year, either to compete for the first place title or to defend their championship standing. The carving contest is open to kids, grouped by school grade, as well as adults. Pumpkins and carving knives are provided to all entrants, and contest awards will be presented at 1:30 p.m. on Sunday.

Power eaters can step up to the plate to gorge and “wear” their favorite dessert in the Pumpkin Pie Eating Contest. Contenders race to devour a nine-inch pumpkin pies loaded with whipped cream. Panache and style go a long way with the audience judges. The contest will be held on Saturday and Sunday at 2 p.m. for kids 11-years-old and under and at 2:15 p.m. for those 12 and older. Who will be the winner? You be the judge!

On Saturday and Sunday from 3 to 5 p.m., the Pumpkin Festival will showcase sensational homegrown artistic talent with “The Golden Gourds”, a youth talent show produced by local actor/director Michael Lederman. Featuring a wide variety of amazing talent, from singers, bands and dancers, to improvisational comedians and poets, “The Golden Gourds” will have a real “awards show atmosphere” complete with the presentation of gold-painted mini pumpkins to the performers. There will be 12 to 15 acts each day, with participants ranging from kindergarteners to young adults in their early 20s.

2007 HALF MOON BAY ART & PUMPKIN FESTIVAL FAMILY STAGE SCHEDULE
Safeway Family Stage, Bank of America lot (Saturday, Oct. 18)
9:30 AM		Grinn & Barrett
10:45 AM		Grinn & Barrett
12 PM		Grinn & Barrett
1:15 PM		Grinn & Barrett
2 PM		Pie Eating Contests
3-5 PM		"The Golden Gourds" Youth Talent Showcase
Safeway Family Stage, Bank of America lot (Sunday, Oct. 19)
9:30 AM		Grinn & Barrett
10:45 AM		Grinn & Barrett
12 PM		Grinn & Barrett
1 PM		Grinn & Barrett
1:30 PM		Pumpkin Carving Contest Awards Presentation
2 PM		Pie Eating Contests
3-5 PM		"The Golden Gourds" Youth Talent Showcase