The Mayfair Park Pumpkin contest started in 2005. There was a new group of young families in the neighborhood. Some good-natured trash talk in baby-group about who had the best pumpkin led to the decision that we needed to put it to a vote. We met in Monkey Park just before Halloween, had munchkins, cider, and voting. And that’s been the tradition ever since.

Early on, there were 4 categories: adult stencil; adult freehand; kid stencil; kid freehand. But as stencils lost popularity to props (2009’s flaming pumpkin; 2010’s USA pumpkin with Party In the USA playing inside it; 2011’s Barbie Cinderella inside a pumpkin turned carriage)… we dropped the stencil/freehand distinction. Eventually, adult/kid categories were dropped too, as people favored kids’ efforts. The categories for a long time have been Props & Traditional, with three winners awarded from each.

The contest has always been a group effort, and a great example of Mayfair Park community spirit. (Neighbors of all ages come out and vote!) But it has been a special labor of love by Becky Fontana, the Good Witch of Woodbine Street.