The Eagle

Glowing reception

Romulus Rotary hosts annual Pumpkin Festival Parade of Lights

The 27^th Annual Pumpkin Festival will roll into Romulus Sept. 19, 20 and 21, led off by the traditional Romulus Rotary Parade of Lights.

The festival will take place at the Romulus Historical Park, located at 11147 Hunt St.

The annual Pumpkin Festival is a three-day event that annually begins on the third Friday in September. The Parade of Lights which traditionally signifies the opening of the event, takes place Friday evening when every entry in the parade is aglow, from bicycles to cement trucks. Thousands of people line up along Goddard Road to enjoy the creative talents on display as the lighted vehicles pass by.

During the weekend, the Pumpkin Festival offers music, food, crafts, and games for all ages. Residents can visit or enter the Classic Car Show, Craft and Vendor Show, or join the fun, relax and enjoy the live music. The annual festival is a celebration of friends and family; a harvest celebration that generates an enthusiastic spirit and regenerates our sense of community, organizers said.

The Rotary Parade of Lights is now accepting entry applications available on Facebook as Romulus Rotary or the Romulusgov.com/Pumpkin Festival sites. A complete set of rules is also available. There is a $10 donation requested per entry and there will be a $50 cash prize for the winners in several categories. Preregistration is appreciated but not required, Rotary organizers said. Audiences can vote for favorite entries on the Romulus Rotary Facebook page. Winners will be announced on Sunday, Sept. 21 and will be invited to a club meeting to be recognized for their creativity and awarded prize money. 

The six categories this year are: Commercial, Motorized, Non-Motorized (People/Animal Powered), Classic Cars, Live Music and Schools.

The most important rule, organizers stressed, is that all entries must be decorated with an abundance of working lights. No entries without plenty of lights will be allowed to participate. Glow sticks are not sufficient lighting for a float or participants.

The more lights, the better, organizers said.

Parade of Lights line-up will begin rain or shine at 6:30 p.m. Sept. 19 directly on Goddard Road, west of Wayne Road. Entries must enter off of Wayne Road for staging. For complete rules and ab an application visit https://tinyurl.com/2025ParadeofLights