Pumpkin Fest to feature first talent show, free to enter
By Bill Petzold
Editor
CARO — A star will be born.
Three of them, in fact.
Singers of all ages will have their chance to dazzle the crowd, show off their talent and possibly earn a cash prize and a trophy at the “Your Hometown Idol Talent Show” beginning at 7:30 p.m. Friday, October 4 at the Tuscola County Pumpkin Festival. Registration is free.
Prizes will be awarded in three age divisions: Juniors (age 12 and younger), Teens (13-19) and Adult (20 and older), with $100, $50 and $25 payouts to first, second and third place winners in each category, respectively.
And, since the event is being sponsored through the Pumpkin Festival, there will be no entry fee. Registration is normally $20 per contestant at other Your Hometown Idol shows.
“I’m hoping that goes over really well because it’s been really popular,” organizer Kristy Tomlinson said. “(Your Hometown Idol event producer Robin Wojta has) got a million shows going on, and it’s a way for people to earn some extra cash … and that’s great when you don’t have to pay anything to register.”
Your Hometown Idol runs talent competitions at fairs and festivals
See TALENT A5
around the state, including contests at the Ingham County Fair and Troy.
Tomlinson said she hopes aspiring singers from all over will take advantage of the opportunity to compete for free.
“We’re trying to get everyone from Tuscola County involved; that’s the main goal,” Tomlinson said. “There’s a lot of talent out there. Not all of these people are going to be from Tuscola County.”
Contestants are asked to bring karaoke-style music tracks (with no lead vocals) on CD, may accompany themselves with an instrument or sing a cappella.
Singers will be judged on stage presence, vocal performance, execution and the ever-elusive “Your Hometown Idol Factor.”
Those interested may register online at www.tuscolapumpkinfest.com or from 6 to 8 p.m. the night of the event at the Pumpkin Festival information booth, 403 North State St. by Bullet Auto.
The event will be the first talent show hosted by the Pumpkin Festival, which previously included a popular lip syncing contest.
“When they had the lip sync it used to be a big thing, but then it kind of dwindled through the years,” Pumpkin Festival director Susan Holder said. “There were two really stable volunteers that put a lot of effort into it … but it kind of dwindled with the kids, with the students. … Lip syncing has kind of morphed into the Idol.”
The Your Hometown Idol competition is expected to be just one of the highlights of a full Pumpkin Festival schedule.
The first Pumpkin Fest event is the free pumpkin giveaway at 12:30 p.m. Sunday, September 29 on the Courthouse Lawn. Also planned are a Community Luau and Cookout at the Caro High School Pool on Wednesday, October 2.
“That whole weekend is packed starting Wednesday with the free swim at the Caro Pool luau and cookout, the entertainment: we have a comedian, we have a steel drum band coming in, pumpkin sculptor,” Holder said. “We have the pumpkin giveaway on September 29 for the kids, and if people still want to donate pumpkins they can give us a call at 673-5211.”
The event also will include a classic car and bike show from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 5 featuring a number of specialty cars including vintage funny cars, dragsters, mud and pull trucks and more.
“One year we had almost 400 cars here,” Holder said. “Mother Nature was very nice to us that year.”
Schall School will host several free events for kids beginning with a magic show at 11 a.m. Saturday, October 5, followed by a petting zoo and inflatables, as well as a chance to check out emergency vehicles.
Events wrap up with the parade at 1:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 6.
According to Holder, the board has worked hard to organize an event that features a diverse array of attractions and entertainment hopes to make the Pumpkin Festival a truly county-wide event.
“Caro just happens to host it, but it’s family friendly and has free events,” Holder said.
For a complete schedule of events, visit tuscolapumpkinfest.com and check back with the Advertiser for ongoing coverage.
Bill Petzold is the editor of the Tuscola County Advertiser. He can be reached at petzold@tcadvertiser.com.