By RICK MILLER
Olean Star
GREAT VALLEY — Pumpkinville opened this past weekend for its 30th year at the current location.
If you count the years when the original Pumpkinville was run by the Joe and Helen Holloran family on Route 98, the Fall icon has been around for 57 years, said Dan Pawlowski, who owns and operates Pumpkinville with his wife, Diane, and their adult children Lisa and Jim.
“It’s been a good start to the season,” Dan said on Sunday as he headed for the field where they shoot the candy cannon on weekends. An announcement on the grounds brings kids and their parents running.
Dan gets help loading the cannon from grandchildren Preston Spako and Carter Pawlowski. After a safety talk, it’s time for the countdown. “Three, two, one — fire.”
As the candy goes shooting out of the compressed air cannon the kids are chasing 3-4 pounds of individually-wrapped candy. For those who come back empty-handed Dan’s grandchildren hand out candy.
It’s a three-generation operation now that the grandchildren are taking on more responsibilities, Dan said.
Diane handles the bakery — don’t forget to ask for the pumpkin donuts dipped in cinnamon and sugar. Since retiring last year as a teacher at Ellicottville Central School, Lisa has become more involved in the business operation, Jim, a physical education teacher at Olean City Schools, in charge of the beer garden.
Master pumpkin carver Eric Jones of West Clarksville will be at Pumpkinville for the next six Sundays from 1-6 p.m.
There are some new things this year: a new interactive donkey exhibit including a new foal born in July, a new rat maze building and Pumpkinville is cashless — mostly. Those people who plan to use cash should stop at the front stand.
There’s also the corn barn where kids can dig and play in corn, the interactive crank tractor, carousel, climbing hill, and slides, gem mining, animals, cow train, apple cannons and jumping pillows. There’s also a cider press.
There’s a lot of pumpkins to choose from too. They are there when you arrive and when you leave.
Pumpkinville is located at 4844 Sugartown Road, Great Valley. It is part of a 225-acre working farm.
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