Brooklet Elementary's annual Pumpkin Parade returned this year for its 29th celebration on Friday, October 25, 2024, bringing a vibrant cast of beloved storybook characters to life. School staff and students, creatively embodying classic tales, showcased imaginative pumpkin displays for the local community.
Smiling faces in book-themed costumes from each of the school’s kindergarten through fifth-grade classes proudly pulled pumpkin characters in little wagons.
And these aren’t just any pumpkins, but ones elaborately decorated to resemble characters from books the children have read in school. Set to music and narrated by Mark Petkewich, BES STEM Lab Teacher, the parade had an elaborate, colorful carnival-like atmosphere.
One of the highlights each year is the anticipation of what book characters the school’s office staff. The school's administration and office staff charmed attendees with costumes inspired by popular fairy tales, including Little Red Riding Hood and the Big Bad Wolf, Goldilocks and the Three Bears, the Three Little Pigs with their various houses, and characters from Sleeping Beauty. Their whimsical portrayals set the stage for a lively and nostalgic parade, creating a fairy-tale experience for everyone.
Jeff Graham, President of the Brooklet Kiwanis Club stopped by at the beginning of the parade to share about their annual Poinsettia Sale which is a fundraiser for the club.
Also Superintendent Charles Wilson joined Grice Connect to share some history on the parade and things that make Bulloch Schools so special. Before Principal Krista Branch joined Grice Connect's DeWayne Grice to provide commentary during the live stream broadcast of the parade.
The school is near the heart of downtown Brooklet, a location that local citizens helped ensure when the school’s new building was built in 1999, so the parade tradition could be kept alive.
CLICK HERE to watch the parade live stream if not showing below.
Each class brought their own twist to the event by recreating scenes from books they had read and enjoyed. Among these, Mrs. Lisa and Mrs. Dee’s classes drew inspiration from The Day the Crayons Quit by Drew Daywalt, bringing humor to the parade with crayon characters full of unique complaints, much to the delight of onlookers.
Kindergartners joined in with a sing-along from Pete the Cat: Old MacDonald's Farm, complete with farm animal pumpkins, while first-graders portrayed characters from the beloved If You Give a… series. From the mouse with his cookie to the dog with his donut, these literary pumpkins brought laughter and smiles as they highlighted classic themes of cause and effect.
Second grade continued the festivities with a series inspired by How to Catch, capturing imaginations with whimsical characters and the ingenuity needed to catch mythical creatures.
Third graders offered a heartwarming look at personal growth through characters from Jory John’s book series, showcasing pumpkins that celebrated kindness, forgiveness, and self-acceptance.
Older students presented thrilling tales: Mrs. Banter and Ms. McCravy’s fourth-grade classes transformed the parade route into a scene from Lunch Lady and the Cyborg Substitute, adding a bit of action and mystery with their inventive portrayal of Lunch Lady's adventures. Meanwhile, Mrs. Scheidt's and Mrs. Purvis’s classes took attendees into the woods with Winner, Winner, Turkey Dinner, a story about a father-son turkey hunt, illustrating the bond between family and nature.
Adding a historical twist, Mrs. Williams' and Mrs. Mathis’ classes explored America’s Wild West in What Was the Wild West?, transporting spectators back in time with pumpkins painted to resemble iconic figures like Billy the Kid and Annie Oakley.
Capping off the event, the fifth grade wowed attendees with pumpkins inspired by Carl Hiaasen novels, featuring adventures in Florida’s wild landscapes. From Chomp* to *Scat, their pumpkins illustrated environmental themes, encouraging young readers to protect wildlife and treasure the world around them.
Brooklet Elementary's Pumpkin Parade once again highlighted the creativity and community spirit of the school’s students, faculty, and families. This year’s storybook-themed parade brought these beloved characters into the hearts of attendees and reminded everyone of the joy found in reading, learning, and celebrating together.
This live stream and coverage of the Brooklet Elementary Pumpkin Parade was made possible through the continued support of Wesley Parker and his team at Parker Engineering, along with Bulloch Solutions as part of their partnership in supporting local journalism through Grice Connect
