Neversink Agricultural Society Director

NEVERSINK – For 40 years, the Giant Pumpkin Party has given generations of local children a day devoted to costumes, pumpkins and fall fun. This year’s 40th annual celebration carried on that tradition, bringing families, volunteers, local organizations and businesses together for a community event centered on children.

Hosted and organized by The Daniel Pierce Library, the Giant Pumpkin Party depends on community volunteers who contribute their time to bring the annual celebration to life. Because the event remains free, families can enjoy a full day of activities while continuing a tradition that has become a treasured part of fall in Grahamsville.

Children enjoyed a wide range of activities, including pumpkin painting and other arts and crafts, several bounce houses, hayrides and pony rides. The Daniel Pierce Library also served its much-loved donuts and apple cider.

Community organizations, businesses and residents supported the festivities in many ways. The Grahamsville Fire Department ran its food booth, offering their fan favorite sausage & peppers sandwiches and soda, the Neversink General Store served tasty BBQ from its food truck, and Barry and Bonnie Lewis operated the pumpkin patch. Local vendors also filled the grounds offering handmade products, crafts and food.

Another highlight was the annual parade through Grahamsville, featuring 26 participating organizations. Many children marched in costume, adding color and personality to the procession. The 2026 theme, “Fall into Reading,” inspired creative entries in the Theme Float Contest. The Neversink Agricultural Society took first place, followed by the Tri-Valley Teachers Association in second and M&L Masonry in third.

For the Neversink Agricultural Society, however, the Pumpkin Party was about more than competition. With its own long history of volunteerism and community tradition, NAS was grateful to help celebrate an event that has brought local families together for generations.

NAS directors and community volunteers embraced the “Fall into Reading” theme with an ambitious float featuring a giant open book and a working Ferris wheel that turned during the parade. Books, pumpkins, cornstalks and live fall florals blended the reading theme with seasonal elements and a nod to the Agricultural Society’s fair traditions.

NAS Directors John Garigliano, Jim Schulte and Tommy Brynes designed and built the working Ferris wheel. Jim McCarthy and Laurie Erath generously contributed their time and talents to create the oversized open book that formed the backdrop for the “Fall into Reading” display. Directors Kaitlyn Cronin, Jess Doyle, Tara Berescik, Nicole Gorr, Larry Bracken, Patrick Cronin, Mike Garigliano, Anthony Garigliano, Patrick Coombe and Kyle Butler helped paint, decorate and assemble the float. Tara Berescik also supplied the live florals used throughout the display, and Patrick Coombe drove the completed float in the parade.

The project also benefited from extra help beyond the board. Janine Garigliano, Sydney Antona and Lara Masterson assisted with painting, while Griffin Garigliano helped decorate and kept the live florals watered throughout the project.

Winning first place was an exciting finish, but creating the float reflected the same community spirit seen throughout the Pumpkin Party. Directors worked with friends and family, while others freely contributed their time, skills and resources to support something special in their community. Traditions with histories like the Giant Pumpkin Party’s do not endure simply because a date remains on the calendar. They continue because people care enough to keep showing up.

For local children, the Pumpkin Party has meant costumes, pumpkins, hayrides, and an autumn day with family and friends. For the adults who organize, volunteer and lend support, it represents something just as important: the chance to create those experiences for the next generation.

The Neversink Agricultural Society was proud to join the Daniel Pierce Library and the many volunteers, organizations, businesses and community members who made this year’s Giant Pumpkin Party possible. NAS was honored to help celebrate a tradition that continues to unite the community with children at its heart.