Pumpkin Festival Falls Victim to Money Woes

Canceling one of its signature events, the Calabasas Chamber of Commerce will not hold the annual Pumpkin Festival this October due to budgetary constraints.

“We don’t take this cancellation lightly at all,� said Carol Washburn, president of the chamber.

The two-day festival, which had featured live entertainment, food, arts and crafts and games for children, has been a community tradition for about 30 years.

Washburn said the businesses that sponsored the festival, which costs about $200,000 to organize, were unable to contribute this year what they have in the past. As a result, the chamber’s directors voted unanimously to cancel the event.