PUMPKINS, 35,000 POUNDS OF THEM, FILL UP HOLIDAY VILLAGE

Pumpkins 35,000 pounds of pumpkins along with bales and bales of straw make up Pumpkin Village at Cape Girardeau's Town Plaza.

Mike Redfearn, owner of Party Palace, is operating the pumpkin village for the Town Plaza Merchants' Association.

"It's all free," Redfearn said. "You don't have to buy anything. You can just come, play in the maze and enjoy the pumpkins. This is our way of saying thank you."

Pumpkins, Indian corn, gourds, pumpkin carving kits and other season items are being sold also.

Redfearn came up with the idea for a Pumpkin Village and then got the support of his fellow merchants at the Town Plaza to set up the Halloween display.

Pumpkin Village has 35,000 pounds of pumpkins under a 60-by-60 foot tent. A 40-by-40 foot maze of straw is set up for youngsters to play in. "It's enclosed so kids can't get out to the street," he said.

A talking "Mayor Pumpkin" greets visitors.

"We have decorated pumpkins and face-painted pumpkins and giant pumpkins that weigh 150 pounds for people to see," Redfearn said.

The village is free and no purchases are required.

On Oct. 31, the association is sponsoring a costume parade and contest beginning at 1 p.m. Merchants have donated prizes and gift certificates.

On Oct. 30, a pumpkin carving contest will be held. People may bring their pumpkins or, Redfearn said, pumpkins will be available to carve at the village.

"We won't sell all the pumpkins," he said. "Rather than throw them in the dumpster, we will pick out 50 to 200 pumpkins for the contest."

The carving contest is slated to begin around 4 p.m. When the jack-o-lanterns are complete, they will be lit by candles and displayed for a pumpkin walk Friday evening.

Pumpkin Village is open from 9:30 a.m. until dark Monday through Saturday and from noon until dark on Sunday.

Tours are available for school or preschool groups. Each class may pick out a free pumpkin and classes are invited to enter their pumpkins in the carving contest.

To schedule a tour of Pumpkin Village, call 334-4973.

"We are trying to schedule the groups so we don't get 150 kids here at the same time," he said. The tours last 15 to 30 minutes.

Those who buy pumpkins also receive a coupon book with free items and discounts for Town Plaza merchants.

Redfearn said before moving his business to Cape Girardeau, Pumpkin Village was a popular attraction at his store in Herrin, Ill.

"Halloween is the best month of the year for party supply stores," he said. "Much better than Christmas or Valentine's Day."

One year, a farmer sold him a few pumpkins. "We sold out," he recalled. The next year, Redfearn brought in more pumpkins; Pumpkin Village was born.

"We added a little tunnel of straw outside for the kids to play in," Redfearn said. "Each year we added a little more."

At its peak in Illinois, Redfearn brought in 80,000 pounds of pumpkins and set up a 40-by-40 foot maze of straw.

Then in 1986, the store burned to the ground. He relocated the business here.

"I have always loved Pumpkin Village," Redfearn said. "It has taken five years of rebuilding to accomplish it."