If you wander onto Highwood’s website (http://celebratehighwood.com/), it talks about it being “…the North Shore’s precious gem” or “offering all the comforts of home”. I was interested.

I saw on the website that Highwood was going to hold its Prelude to the Great Highwood Pumpkin Festival on October 21, 3-8p at City Hall. It was the city’s “practice run” for The World Record Attempt in 2010. I packed up my little “Cinderella” (kids dressed up) and headed east.

The “Great Wall of Pumpkins”; can you picture scaffolding holding 1,000 pumpkins, and a guy standing in a “cherry picker”, 32 feet in the air, lighting each one of them? Each pumpkin was carved by children, adults and seniors in the area for the festival. Again…there were 1,000. Next year’s goal is 32,000!! That will be amazing!

There was the farmer’s market, (that has been held every Wednesday since June), local vendors, live music, trick-or-treating all around the downtown and even a hayride. We had a blast!

While I was there, I got the opportunity to talk to some of the residents of Highwood. It was an opportunity to find out what to try the next time I come back (which will be on my date night, this next weekend)!

You really HAVE to go to the website. There are coupons and descriptions for each of the merchants in the area. You’ll find a large assortment of dining opportunities. I don’t know where to start! Do I try a place called Froggie’s or Buffo’s or Bridie McKenna’s? Do I want steaks, shrimp, Indian or pizza? The options are endless.

I really enjoyed strolling down the streets of Highwood, even though it was after dark, peering in the windows of the local shops. The festival was all a buzz in the background and Maggie and I got our own “prelude” to what we will experience again. Can’t wait to go back!

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