Virginia to pack a fair pumpkin!

From sport to spectacle and music to magic and more family fun than you can squeeze into the world's biggest pumpkin, Virginia will have it all this bank holiday weekend. Last minute preparations are underway and committee members are busily taking media calls. Virginia Soccer Club are carving out pumpkins that will be placed in the windows along the Main Street to create a magical atmosphere for the many after-dark events. Little wonder it's all hands on deck in the lake-side town as it gears up for a massive influx of about 20,000 visitors for the biggest Virginia Pumpkin Festival yet. "We're trying to make it a festival that will be remembered, something unique. We just want people to come out and enjoy it," said Rita Martin, explaining why the voluntary committee put spooky amounts of work into the largescale festival. "I think people like to do something for the good of the community and it does put Virginia on the map. And everyone needs a lift at this time as well, because there's so much doom and gloom. It encourages people in the community to do something positive together." Sport themed opening The line-up for Friday's GAA themed opening parade all adds up to a huge coup for the festival. Triple world handball champion Paul Brady will take part in the festival opening parade on Friday. GAA football and hurling fans are excited at the news that top stars Tadhg Kennelly, John Mullane and Sean Cavanagh will all be in Virginia for Friday's parade. The Artane Band on their first visit to Virginia will provide musical entertainment. The parade will include many parts of the monumental pageant, which was commissioned by the GAA 125 committee for this year's Dublin St. Patricks Day Festival. This is the only other time the pageant pieces have been on display. The victorious Virginia Blues team from 1959 and 1962 led by their captain Eamon Matthews will also take part in the parade. Some have travelled from USA especially for the occasion. Other GAA personalities will also take part in this part of the programme such as Mick Higgins who was the last man to captain Cavan to All Ireland in 1952. After the parade, members of the public can put questions to the all stars, during a session chaired by BBC and Northern Sound reporter Owen McConnon. "This will be a very special night for Virginia and it is expected that people will travel in great numbers," according to the committee. Musical magic Bell X1's first ever performance in Co. Cavan at the Virginia Pumpkin Festival marquee this Saturday night will be the highlight for contemporary music aficionados who may even spot band members - Dave Geraghty, Paul Noonan and Dominic Phillips - about the streets of Virginia during the weekend. Lead vocalist Paul told The Anglo-Celt they plan to make the most of their first trip to these parts. "We look forward to it," said Paul. "We'll be enjoying the festival and meeting the good people of Cavan. It's our first time playing there and we like doing new things." The band will be supported by Kells band, Little Palace. "Buses will run from Cavan on the Saturday night, so check with local cab companies," advised Rita Martin. Other music events in the marquee will be Lightning Strikes on Sunday night and the Farmers Dance on Monday. Billed as "one of Ireland's most sensational live acts", Lightning Strikes' new stage show, encompasses the hits and sounds of a galaxy of international stars, including Cher, Meat Loaf, Blondie, Rod Stewart, Tina Turner, Madness, John Travolta, Olivia Newton John and the Bay City Rollers. With 14 costume changes and brilliant musicianship and vocal performances, here's your chance to dance, swoon and sing along to the sounds of the 70s, 80s and 90s. Monday's Farmers Dance features Declan Nerney of The Marquee in Drumlish fame, Tyrone country music legend Philomena Begley, Larry Cunningham renowned for songs like Lovely Leitrim and Pretty Little Girl From Omagh, not to mention Brian Coll of The Plattermen fame. Family fun "It's very much a family festival," said Rita of the programme, which includes teddy bears' picnic, children's fancy dress and lots more for all age-groups. Last year the festival featured Europe's largest pumpkin, weighing the same as a Mini car, and Boylesports are now offering odds on winners of the pumpkin weigh-in, the seasonal focal point around which the festival was built. Louth man, Michael Byrne is the 8/11 favourite to win, according to Boylesports. The unique festival will see pumpkin farmers from Ireland, the UK and even as far away as Italy, battle it out to have the heaviest pumpkin. Eugene Brady from Longford, with his pumpkin currently weighing over 500lbs, is the 11/4 second favourite to take the title while pumpkin producer Ed Molloy is the competition's outsider at 6/1. Revellers can expect to see the town come alive by illuminated pumpkins, be entertained by fire throwers and acrobats, see the fantastic fire carnival staged by the award winning street theatre group Luxe and enjoy the fantastic firework display over Lough Ramor. Some of the festival's quirky attractions are: the town blackout, which sees the town of Virginia lit entirely by carved pumpkins; the Samba parade and street dancers and Ireland's largest fancy dress party. Sunday's stunning parade is timed to start at dusk, with lots of fire-eaters and pyrotechnics, creating a magical Halloween atmosphere for adults and children of all ages. • See programme on page 4 of The Anglo-Celt. For further information visit www.pumpkinfestival.ie or the festival Facebook page.