The sights, sounds and smells of fall were in the air Sunday afternoon as hundreds came out for the annual Pumpkin Palooza at the Goggleworks in downtown Reading.
The seventh annual event was back in full swing after having to scale back last year because of the COVID-19 pandemic, said Jamie Smith, director of operations at the Goggleworks.
“It’s amazing,” Smith said. “We’re so happy for people to come out and join us again and see what we’re creating and enjoy the Goggleworks.”
Colorful handmade glass pumpkins were on display and purchased, some were even wearing facemasks.
“We tried to have a little bit of fun with it,” Smith said.
This year, artists created 50 limited edition seventh annual glass pumpkins for the event.
There were three special workshops where visitors could preregister to make their own glass pumpkin using hot glass, fused glass or flame work techniques, Smith said.
The workshops hosted 60 people and were sold out, Smith added.
Artists from the Goggleworks and the community took part in Sunday’s event.
“That’s really exciting,” Smith said. “They were doing demonstrations and artist events throughout the day.”
Sunday featured a campfire to make smores, live music, food from local restaurants, cider tastings, kids activities, a bubble station and much more.
Last year because of COVID-19, Pumpkin Palooza was scaled back and organizers held a community pumpkin hunt instead.
Pumpkins were hidden throughout the city at businesses and nonprofits, and clues were posted on the Goggleworks Instagram for people to find the pumpkins.
“That was kind of our way to keep it going last year,” Smith said.
The citywide pumpkin hunt was held again this year, and a second pumpkin hunt was held Sunday on the Goggleworks grounds, Smith said.
When you found a pumpkin, you were allowed to keep it, Smith said.
Rebecca Fitz and daughters Helen, 9, and Lillianna, 13, took part in the fused glass workshop.
“I just looked it up yesterday and was looking for something fun to do,” Rebecca said. “We got one of the glass pumpkins too, they are gorgeous.”
Lillianna was making fused glass pumpkin in the workshop.
“It’s fun,” she said. “You have to be very precise with your cuts.”
Alex Newhall, a studio artist and teacher at the Goggleworks, was helping the students with their fused glass creations.
“You take different elements of glass, assemble them and cut them the way you want them,” Newhall said. “Then you put them in the kiln and they melt together.”
Pumpkins, ghosts and candy corn were a few of the glass pieces students made.
Source: Berkshire mont
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