Not about politics but interesting from Catt.Co. folks !!
GREAT VALLEY - A constant for Pumpkinville, now in its 45th year this fall, is that it has continued to evolve and grow as a seasonal attraction.

That evolution took a large step forward for this fall when the owners took possession of a refurbished 1870s-era cider mill, which is now a main feature at Pumpkinville.

The mill was purchased from Fred and Shirley Nagel of East Randolph and moved to Pumpkinville, where it's located in a new building.

"People can enjoy the unique experience of seeing how apple cider was made back in the late 1800s," said Dan Pawlowski, who along with his wife, Diane, took transfer of Pumpkinville 11 years ago from founders Joe and Helen Halloran.

"We keep trying to add something every year and continue to grow the place, to outdo ourselves from the previous year," Mr. Pawlowski said.

This weekend marks Pumpkinville's Apple Cider Festival and celebrates the new cider mill. It's not too late to enter an apple pie in Pumpkinville's apple pie baking contest. Entries will be taken up to 11:45 a.m. Sunday. The entries are being judged by Casey Hill of WPIG-FM radio station. Winners will receive a prize.

The festival will also feature apple pressing and special treats including apple fudge, apple cider floats, and caramel and candy apples.

With an estimated 80,000 people expected to pass through Pumpkinville this fall, "It is the largest regional tourist destination of Western New York's autumn season," Mr. Pawlowski said.

Many children head straight for the 200-acre farm's 10-acre pumpkin patch to select their own pumpkin. Others pick through piles of orange pumpkins that have been stacked around the grounds.

Also featured is a six-acre corn maze. "It's one of the largest in America and provides hidden messages with chances to win prizes," Mr. Pawlowski said.

Other features include a corn cannon, Goat Mountain, where visitors feed goats as they climb the mountain, pony rides, hay rides and a new cow train. There is also Storyland, which recounts classic and new fairy tales for children to enjoy.

The smell of charbroiled food is never far away. The Pumpkinville Grille features chicken barbecue and other foods, Top off the meal with a dessert from the Pumpkinville Pastry Shoppe. They make pumpkin doughnuts while you wait.

Mr. Pawlowski is looking forward again this year to Pumpkinville's official Giant Pumpkin Weigh-Off on Oct. 13.

There were 32 giant pumpkins entered last year, and more are expected this year to compete for $4,000 in prizes, including $1,250 to the grower of the largest giant pumpkin, he said. "Anyone can enter," he said. Stop by or call Pumpkinville at 699-2205 for more information.

Pumpkinville's new Web site at www.pumpkinville.com is full of information, answers to frequent questions and photos.

"It's been great so far this year," Mr. Pawlowski said. "The weather's been great and we've got plenty of pumpkins." The next four weekends will be "rocking and rolling," he said. "The final weekend before Halloween will be like buying a Christmas tree on Christmas Eve."

Billing itself as New York state's premier pumpkin farm, Pumpkinville began in the early 1960s as a small family operation on Route 98 in Sugartown, just north of the hamlet of Great Valley.

The Pawlowskis moved the attraction to 4844 Sugartown Road (off Route 98) in the town of Great Valley.