Many valley folks still talk about the great time they had at Potato Palooza, held three years ago at Winderberry Greenhouses. Well dust off your dancing shoes, this time a Pumpkin Palooza is coming your way.

The Columbia Valley Botanical Gardens and Centre for Sustainable Living hosted the 2008 palooza to thank hundreds of community members for the labour and money they put into Invermere’s Community Greenhouse. They have changed their name to Groundswell Network, and have changed veggies for this year’s theme, but won’t be messing with the basic ingredients that made the palooza such a success.

Once again Jack and Glenda Steedman have graciously offered their Winderberry Greenhouses for the shindig, Bill Cropper is returning as the Master of Ceremonies, and Brian Rogers is assembling a lineup of favourite local musicians to get folks hopping.

In this celebration of all things pumpkin, a host of valley culinary stars will prepare their very favourite pumpkin soups, along with pumpkin bread and tarts. The culinary talent includes Shane Bauer, Leah Duperreault, Rhonda Konchak, Marc LeBlanc, Randy McStevens, Adrian and Lara McCormack and Fritz Reisle.

The David Thompson Secondary School Art Club is hand crafting beautiful soup bowls for the occasion, and guests can take their bowls home after the event. And on the eve of Halloween, of course there will be orange-coloured globular fun, including a pumpkin piñata and pumpkin relay. Costumes? Well we’ll leave that decision up to the guests.

At the event you can bid on a get-away for two at Tinhorn Creek Vineyards, and your $30 ticket includes a chance to win a Pumpkin Facial Peel! How’s that for a fall tune-up?

Tickets are now on sale at Circle Health; please bring cash or cheque as credit cards cannot be accepted. And hurry as only 200 are available. To really enjoy a stress-free evening, take our free shuttle bus, leaving Sobey’s parking lot at 6:45 and 7:30 p.m. and returning at 10 and 11:30 p.m. Please sign up at Circle Health.