Pumpkin Festival 2025
Maud Resource Centre & Maud Village
Our first-ever Pumpkin Festival was created to celebrate community ownership, spark creativity, and bring people together for a joyful evening in the heart of Maud. Held in the beautiful village community garden, lovingly cared for by local residents Valerie and Gordon, the event also gave people the chance to experience this special space after dark, transformed with lights, decorations, and a touch of Halloween magic.
The festival came to life after an invitation from Community Land Scotland to take part in their national Community Land Festival. Supporting people to connect, socialise, and feel part of their community sits at the heart of the Maud Village Trust’s work, helping to tackle social isolation, improve wellbeing, and strengthen community spirit across Central Buchan.
The response from the village was fantastic, with 45 households registering to take part. Pumpkins were kindly supplied by Longley’s Country Store, while children from our crochet club helped decorate the garden with fairy lights and glow-in-the-dark displays. The Old Mart Café added to the warmth of the evening by donating a delicious cauldron of pumpkin soup, served by one of our Conversation Café volunteers. Prizes for the top four pumpkins were generously donated by Valerie and Gordon and judged by local favourite Johnnie Keith, who was amazed by the creativity on display.
Despite heavy rain, the atmosphere remained lively and welcoming, with families, friends, and neighbours coming and going throughout the evening. Many visitors shared how much they loved the event and asked for it to become an annual tradition. One attendee from the Community Mental Health Team described it as “community work at its best”, highlighting the joy of seeing people of all ages taking part together.
For many families, it was their first visit to the community garden, and they were keen to return. The evening not only showcased incredible creativity but also strengthened connections, encouraged volunteering, and created a shared sense of pride in the village.
The Pumpkin Festival achieved exactly what it set out to do: bring people together, inspire imagination, and celebrate the power of community. And judging by the smiles, laughter, and glowing pumpkins, this magical evening may well be the start of a new Maud tradition. 🎃
