Camp Sunshine Pumpkin Festivals GOURD Times Had in Boston & New York City!

We did it! No we did not set a new world record for the most lit jack-o-lanterns in one place at one time (though that distinction still remains ours, as nobody was able to best the 30,128 lit pumpkins we amassed in 2006 in Boston), but we did manage to pull off two incredible pumpkin festivals in Boston and in New York City where we raised significant funding and a ton of awareness for Camp Sunshine. The actual dollar amount raised will be published soon.

On October 20th at City Hall Plaza in Boston over 75,000 people came out to help us carve and light 21,853 pumpkins. The place was rocking with great tunes all day long while children and their families played games and enjoyed pumpkin pie, pumpkin ice cream, and all sorts of other great foods and fun-filled activities. It was a true family event, in keeping with Camp Sunshine’s family focused mission, and we couldn’t have pulled it off without the support of our lead sponsor Market Basket supermarkets, Lisa Menino and our friends at City Hall Plaza, and all of our other sponsors and partners.

No sooner did we leave Boston than we quickly began setting up for our event in Central Park. On October 27th, we treated New Yorkers and folks from all over the tri-state area (NY, NJ, and CT) to the largest display of lit jack-o-lanterns in the history of NYC. At the end of the day, a total of 10,113 pumpkins were carved and lit, and approximately 50,000 people came out despite the rain that came down at least during the first half of the day. After around 3 or 4 pm in the afternoon, however, the sun came out and the skies cleared making way for a GOURDgeous fall night in Central Park. It was magnificent, and Camp Sunshine received the exposure and attention it deserves. Special thanks to our partners at New York City’s Department of Parks and Recreation, and also to our presenting sponsors S.L.E. Lupus Foundation and the Children’s Brain Tumor Foundation, and all of our other sponsors and partners.

Finally, besides the sponsors who so generously help to make these events possible, none of this work could have been accomplished without the tireless efforts of Camp Sunshine’s staff and volunteers who time after time show their unyielding commitment to Camp Sunshine and the children and families we serve. These volunteers represent the true spirit of Camp Sunshine.

We hope to be back again next year in Boston at City Hall Plaza and in New York at Central Park, and we fully expect to be back in a position to put forward a serious effort to break our own record for the most lit jack-o-lanterns in one place at one time!