Pumpkin Fest weekend will be celebrated at The Middletown Home on Friday, Sept. 15, through Sunday, Sept. 17. Events will include live musical entertainment, food, children's activities, a sale by artisan vendors and an opportunity to win prizes. In keeping with the theme, there will be a pumpkin patch, pumpkin painting and pumpkin chunkin'.

This event will kick off at 7 p.m. on Sept 15 with a free concert by country musicians Chris Woodward and Shindiggin. After the concert, there will be a fireworks display, which is a new attraction this year.

Pumpkin Fest will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 16, and Sept. 17. For children, there will be hayrides, a bounce house, scarecrow making, barrel train rides, magic shows, mini horses and a puppy kissing booth.

"Tickets will be required (for the activities), or you can get a wristband to play all day," noted Cindy Hartman, director of communications.

Adults will be able to shop from artisans and crafters, visit the wine and beer garden for a special Pumpkin Fest ale and try their hand at ax throwing.

A full menu of food will be available to purchase, including chicken corn soup made by residents of The Middletown Home, as well as chicken barbecue, Mexican street corn, french fries, ice cream, hot dogs and hamburgers. Food trucks will also be on-site.

In addition to opening night, bands will perform throughout the weekend. A full schedule of performers can be found at http://www.facebook.com/middletownhome in a post dated Aug. 26.

"Pumpkin Fest is also a huge music fest, with four free concerts each day by local and regional bands like Pentagon and Uptown Band," Hartman noted. Concerts are free and take place on an outdoor band stage on the property. A professional sound company will be utilized to ensure a quality sound.

There will also be a tent where attendees may enter a drawing to win a variety of prizes, such as tickets to see the Hershey Bears from a luxury box, concert tickets and football tickets to see the Eagles, Steelers, Ravens and Penn State University Nittany Lions. The two grand prizes are a Caribbean cruise and a Disney cruise. The winners will be announced after the event.

Pumpkin Fest is a fundraiser for The Middletown Home, a nonprofit, continuing care community for people of all ages. According to Lou Vogel, CEO, 100% of the profits from Pumpkin Fest go to the care of the residents, including those who have exhausted their financial resources.

The Middletown Home is located at 999 W. Harrisburg Pike, Middletown. Admission to Pumpkin Fest is free. Parking will be by donation and will benefit the Lower Swatara Lions Club. For more information, visit the previously mentioned website, call The Middletown Home at 717-944-3351 or email CHartman@MiddletownHome.org.