The sights and sounds of Fall include many things like crisp mornings, apple picking and cider season, and the leaves changing color.  Most of all, autumn makes us think “pumpkins.”

People of all ages are inspired by the artistry and creativity of the giant pumpkins that are so associated with Damariscotta Pumpkinfest & Regatta. They line Main Street in Damariscotta and are placed at other regional businesses including the Boothbay Harbor Region Chamber of Commerce’s lawn.

Stone sculptor William Jacobs will carve one of the Boothbay Railway Village’s two homegrown Atlantic Giants live during Fall Foliage Festival this Saturday, Oct. 7. The Museum’s pumpkins were weighed during the official Volunteer Grower’s Weigh-in last weekend at Pinkham’s Plantation and tipped the scales at 554.5 and 245 pounds.  The larger pumpkin was awarded fifth place at the volunteer weigh-in and will be deployed in Downtown Damariscotta for the Damariscotta Pumpkinfest & Regatta.

Those who want to get involved in the pumpkin fun, might consider registering for the third annual Fall Foliage Festival Pumpkin Carving Contest this weekend during the Fall Foliage Festival.  Entering the pumpkin carving contest is just a $5 fee and includes a pass for free admission to the Festival and your 10- to 15-pound pumpkin to carve and take home. Registration forms are available on the event page on the Museum’s website. Contestants can register in advance or at the door until all pumpkins have been spoken for.

All pumpkin carving must occur onsite between 9 a.m. Saturday and noon on Monday. Basic tools are provided but contestants are welcome bring your favorite tools from home. Electric will even be available for those who might want to bring drills, Dremels and other power tools (bring your own extension cord, too!) All ages and skill levels are welcome to enter the contest. Spectators are encouraged to come and cheer on the participants.

The judges for the contest include sculptor Bill Royall of Southport and Sarah and Claire Libby of the official Damariscotta Pumpkinfest & Regatta Committee. A top secret third judge will join the group but will remain anonymous so they can’t be swayed by gifts and bribes. The judges will review all entries at noon on Monday with the award announcement beginning at 12:30 p.m. Pumpkins and prizes can be picked up starting at 1 p.m. on Monday.

Fabulous prizes have been donated by a wide variety of businesses including Hawke Motors, Two Salty Dogs Pet Outfitters, Watershed Tavern, Log Cabin Shoes/Gimbel’s Country Store, On Board Fabrics, Coastal Maine Popcorn Company, Calypso, Richard MacDonald Stained Glass Studio, Merry Auld Market & Tea Company, Boothbay Region Greenhouses, Anderson Studio, River’s End, Boothbay Harbor Framers & Gifts, Red Cloak Haunted History Tours and a Scentsy gift from Katrina Rickermann, with more prizes expected to be added by the weekend.

The Festival is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday and Monday. Admission is $4 for adults, children under 12 and Boothbay Railway Village Museum Members are free. Steam train tickets are an additional $5 each (free for Museum Members.)  Parking is free both in the Museum’s main parking lots and the special event parking lot across Route 27 next to T & D Variety.

Contact the Boothbay Railway Village for more information at (207) 633-4727, or online at www.railwayvillage.org.  The Boothbay Railway Village is located at 586 Wiscasset Road, Route 27 in Boothbay, Maine.