Thousands welcome fall season at Summerlin festival

Richard Brian

From left, Leo Forrest, 4, and sister, Annlee, 1, play with Joel Andrews, 2, and his older brother, Ryan, 4, during the Summerlin Pumpkin Festival at the Gardens Park on Saturday.

By Jeff O'Brien (contact)

Saturday, Oct. 11, 2008 | 5:51 p.m.

The air was crisp and cool at The Gardens Park on Saturday as more than 3,000 Summerlin residents attended the second annual Summerlin Pumpkin Festival, an event designed to celebrate the arrival of the fall season.

“It’s one of those events that add a sense of community to Summerlin,” said Traci Giesea, special events and recreation coordinator for the Summerlin Council. “That’s what all of our events are about -- encouraging neighbors and residents to mingle and get to know each other.”

The event originated out of a “haunted campout” that used to take place at The Crossing Park, where families could pitch a tent and spend the night enjoying Halloween-themed activities.

But the campout could only accommodate about 300 people each year, and Giesea said it quickly outgrew itself.

“Every year we would have so many people on the waiting list,” she said. “So we decided to move it to The Gardens Park and make it a festival for the entire community.”

The Summerlin Council also partnered with the Las Vegas Farmer’s Market for the event, providing several booths with arts and crafts for sale.

Children and adults enjoyed spooky music, games, a bounce house and a petting zoo.

More than 600 pumpkins were on sale at the “Summerlin Pumpkin Patch” and dozens of children — many dressed in Halloween attire — ran amuck in the hay maze.

Betty Bradley was visiting from Philadelphia and watched as her 2-year-old grandson, Mikey, ran around the hay maze.

“This is my first time here,” Bradley said. “It’s a lot of fun.”

Bradley’s daughter, Meg Kawan, moved into The Vistas all the way from South Korea at the end of June. Her husband is in the Air Force.

“Actually, I think the weather is pretty nice,” Kawan said as a chilly wind blew across the park. “It’s a little cool and windy, but that’s perfect for fall.”

She said her son, Mikey, is ready for Halloween.

“He’s going to dress up as a skeleton,” Kawan said. “He’s definitely ready for it.”

Over at the petting zoo, 5-year-old Bryce Screen of Summerlin had just finished petting the goats. When asked what his favorite part of the pumpkin festival was, he took his time and surveyed the scene around him.

“The jump house,” Bryce said. “But I like the maze, too!”

Jeff O’Brien can be reached at 990-8957 or jeff.obrien@hbcpub.com.