Keene Equinox

The 2007 Keene Pumpkin Festival drew a large crowd but fell short of reclaiming its title of most lit pumpkins in one place. "I think we're doing well with pumpkins," said Suzanne Woodward, the executive director of Cheshire County Center Stage, the non-profit who puts on the Keene Pumpkin Festival.… Post the First Comment

Sixteen years ago, six Main Street merchants sat in a room planning four annual downtown events that would draw the community together and stimulate the local economy and spirit. "We wanted to plan events that would instill a celebratory atmosphere downtown," explained Judy Rogers, owner of Prime Roast Coffee Company.… Post the First Comment

The aroma of pumpkin guts in the air makes one thing clear, the Keene Pumpkin Festival is very near. Swarms of students joined the 1,800 pumpkins on the Fiske quad to take part in Keene State College's annual Pumpkin Lobotomy on Friday afternoon. "The lobotomy is an event that has been done for many years and we do it to be KSC's contribution to the Pumpkin Fest," said Dan Saucier, student body vice president.… Post the First Comment

It's not widely known that hollowed orange gourds are an effective method of communication, but at the annual Pumpkin Festival in Keene it's celebrated on a grand scale as students and community members alike carve messages to the world through their pumpkins.… Post the First Comment

The 2007 Keene Pumpkin Festival may be history, but in about two weeks Center Stage Cheshire County, which organizes the event, will be planning next year's installment. Keene city government is closely involved in that planning process, according to Lindsay Woodward, Center Stage's assistant event coordinator.… Post the First Comment

As the 17th annual Keene Pumpkin Festival came to a close Saturday night, a new batch of volunteers arrived to clean up pumpkins and send them to their final resting place. While many of the pumpkins on Main Street were literally thrown into the street, those surviving on the scaffolding were taken down by a different method.… Post the First Comment

It all started in 1991 when the founders of Center Stage Cheshire County wanted to revive downtown Keene. Center Stage is an organization committed to creating community wide events and programs that improve the excitement factor of the downtown atmosphere.… Post the First Comment