T-L Photo/JENNIFER COMPSTON-STROUGH Blathmac Reptile Magician, left, performs a magic trick at the Barnesville Pumpkin Festival on Thursday evening. He is assisted by Katie McKivitz of Barnesville, right, and her 6-year-old daughter, Zelda, who is a first-grader at Union Local Elementary School.

BARNESVILLE – The 56th annual Barnesville Pumpkin Festival is officially underway with giant produce, a wide variety of food and plenty of rides, fun and games for all to enjoy.

At 5 p.m. Thursday, Norma Matko and Marty Schumacher Jr. cut the ribbon to open the event. They did so in honor and memory of their father, Martin Schumacher. He was a founder of the festival and died earlier this year. Trophies were presented to the King Pumpkin grower, Bill Neptune of New Concord, Ohio, and the runners-up. Also making an official appearance were members of the festival’s royal court.

After the formalities were completed, the village streets filled with people who were out to enjoy carnival rides, challenging games and the taste of fair food. A wide range of vendors lined the streets, while dozens of crafters could be found inside the Barnesville Elementary School gym as part of the annual “Pumpkin Patch.”

Blathmac Reptile Magician put on a show for guests young and old at the Pumpkin Stage, followed by the live band Jessica Jo and the Outlaws. A talent show took place on the Central Stage, with bands Minor Chord and One A Chord coming on afterward. The Pumpkin Baby contest was held at First Christian Church New Life Center, and Deep Down Country closed out the evening’s entertainment at Blue Moon Tavern.

Businesses throughout the downtown area stayed open late, and a few hosted private events in conjunction with the festival. One of those was the Shaheen Law Group office on Main Street. Attorney Michael Shaheen owns the St. Clairsville-based firm and opened a Barnesville office nearly two years ago.

“For 10 or 12 years, we would bring the kids, have some food and look at the pumpkins,” firm owner and attorney Michael Shaheen said of the festival. “Last year, having been here about six months, we were so taken by the genuine commitment of the community to this event. It transcends generations.”

People of all ages, including some of his staff attorneys and their families as well as his wife, Robyn, and their son, Mikey, were on hand for the reception held at the office Thursday.

“I find it so refreshing that the community can get the next generation to buy in,” Shaheen said, “It’s exhilarating and wholesome that, in this age of acrimony there is zero here. Nobody cares where you are from or what your political party is.”

Shaheen also commended the Pumpkin Festival Committee, which includes many volunteers, for their hard work to make the annual event a success.

There is plenty of additional entertainment on tap for the remainder of the festival weekend. A highlight today will be the Barnesville Shamrocks’ home game against Catholic Central beginning at 7 p.m. Other activities today include the Squash Carver from 3-9 p.m. near the information booth, a fudge contest at 5:30 p.m. near the King Pumpkin, several live bands throughout the evening and tours of the Victorian Mansion Museum from noon to 4 p.m. A book sale is taking place at the Watt Center, and a farm machinery display will be open throughout the day near the water department office.

Saturday’s highlight will be the Giant Pumpkin Parade, which begins at 1:45 p.m. A variety of contest will also occur, including tobacco spitting, hog calling, tall tale telling and a beard and mustache contest.

The festival concludes Sunday, with all of the daily activities, live bands, contests and much more taking place prior to 5 p.m.