The pumpkins are ripening in the field and the latest news is another bumper crop of enormous orange Jack O’ Lanterns are promised this Halloween ready for Bungay’s Pumpkin Night. “We planted more pumpkins than ever before,” said Jonny Crickmore “and so far it looks to be a very fruitful year!” Jonny will once more be donating some pumpkins for the Pumpkin Night with many of the surplus ones going on sale on the Flixton Road in the 2 weeks run up to Halloween. So if you want to buy your own “orange giant” don’t miss out!

This year 31st October falls on a Sunday and so the celebrations will end a little earlier than usual. They will start at 4pm, with the lighting of the pumpkins, and end at 8pm when the roads will be reopened. Due to a wedding in the family the usual organisers have had to take a back seat this year but we have been lucky enough to have invaluable help from John Pestell, who has very kindly taken over the organizing. “John has been instrumental in ensuring this years night goes ahead and we are very grateful,” said Deirdre Shepherd, Chairman of the Bridge Street Feasts and Festivals Committee.

As a change, not only will Bridge Street be closed but also Cross Street and half of Trinity Street, to allow people proper access to the town and to provide a safe environment for the children to Trick or Treat. There will be no shortage of sweets for keen mini monsters! “As a mother to 2 young children it is great to have somewhere fun to take them that doesn’t charge an entrance fee,” said Hayley Doe of Beccles. The Buttercross, in the centre of town, will be filled with food stalls, and many of the shops will be open to welcome any interested browsers.

Feedback from recent years has highlighted the fact large numbers of people can make the viewing of the pumpkins a little tricky. “I love clusters of pumpkins, in dark corners, they look so effective” commented Amanda Barrett who came all the way from Lincoln in 2009. With this in mind the pumpkins will be arranged slightly differently this year, in groups to improve visibility and the overall effect.

“Record numbers were seen in 2009 with some of the best costumes to be seen out of a film special effects studio” said Deirdre Shepherd. Weather permitting we hope for an equally successful year for 2010.

The usual team will be back in force for 2011 with a different take on Pumpkin night and an exciting re-launch.