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The Boykins Town Council recently learned of the Boykins Parks & Recreation Committee’s plans for this year’s Pumpkin Fest, and the Tarrara Women’s Club is planning to host a candidate forum featuring town mayoral and council candidates.

Boykins Town Clerk and Treasurer Victoria Edwards said that at the Town Council’s August meeting, the Parks & Rec report shared the success of July’s Touch-a-Truck event and informed the council of the Parks & Rec Committee’s plans for Pumpkin Fest, which will take place Saturday, Oct. 15, from 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

“This year our opening ceremony will include the dedication of the (Boykins) Blessing Brick(s Memorial) Walkway in the Buck Lassiter Mini Park,” Edwards said.

The 5-foot-wide walkway, being coordinated by The Coard Foundation and other nonprofits like it, is granting people the opportunity to leave a legacy in the town of Boykins that honors loved, respected and admired individuals and organizations. People have been invited to order a brick and dedicate it to the person or group of their choice. The bricks are being engraved to reflect this choice.

“We have also expanded our pageant,” Edwards said.

Last year, 6-year-old Veronica “Rony” Rose Griffith, from Courtland, was crowned as the first-ever Lil’ Miss Pumpkin Fest.

“We now have two age groups that can participate in the pageant,” Edwards said, noting that the title of Tiny Miss Pumpkin Fest will be available to 2- to 4-year-olds, and the title of Little Miss Pumpkin Fest will be available to 5- to 7-year-olds. 

Edwards stated that anyone interested in participating can find the forms under the town’s “Events” tab on its website, townofboykinsva.com, or pick them up at the town office. The registration deadline for the pageant and for vendors is Saturday, Oct. 1. 

“Of course, we will have our traditional cake walks, kids zones, hay rides and games throughout the day,” Edwards said, further describing the 12th annual Boykins Pumpkin Fest.

She also noted that she was recently informed by the Tarrara Women’s Club that it will be hosting a candidate forum to give residents of Boykins an opportunity to get to know the candidates running for mayor and Town Council. 

The candidates for mayor include incumbent Jackie Robertson Sr. and Nickolas Zinn. 

The candidates for Town Council include incumbents Linda Beatty and Freddy Felts; currently appointed members Dee Modlin Clary and Robert “Chet” Poland; and Justin Merchant.

Hank Fuller has declared he is running for reelection as a write-in, Edwards said.

The candidate forum will be held at the Boykins Fire House on Tuesday, Oct. 4, at 7 p.m.