October 10 – The sights, sounds and smells of autumn were in the air on Sunday afternoon as hundreds came for the annual Pumpkin Palooza at the Goggleworks in downtown Reading.

The seventh annual event is back in full swing after having to cut back last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, said Jamie Smith, director of operations at Goggleworks.

“It’s amazing,” Smith said. “We are so happy that people are coming to join us again and see what we are creating and enjoying the Goggleworks.”

Handmade colorful glass pumpkins were on display and purchased, some even wearing face masks.

“We tried to have a bit of fun with that,” Smith said.

This year, the artists created 50 glass pumpkins for the seventh limited edition edition for the event.

There were three special workshops where visitors could register in advance to make their own glass pumpkin using hot glass, fused glass or flamework techniques, Smith said.

The workshops accommodated 60 people and were fully booked, added Smith.

Artists from Goggleworks and the community participated in Sunday’s event.

“It’s really exciting,” Smith said. “They were doing art demonstrations and events throughout the day.”

Sunday campfire for making smores, live music, food from local restaurants, cider tastings, activities for kids, bubble station and much more.

Last year due to COVID-19, Pumpkin Palooza was downsized and organizers held a community pumpkin hunt instead.

Pumpkins have been stashed all over town at businesses and nonprofits, and clues have been posted on Goggleworks Instagram for people to find the pumpkins.

“It was kind of our way of continuing last year,” Smith said.

The citywide pumpkin hunt took place again this year, and a second pumpkin hunt took place on Sunday at Goggleworks grounds, Smith said.

When you found a pumpkin, you were allowed to keep it, Smith said.

Rebecca Fitz and her daughters Helen, 9, and Lillianna, 13, participated in the molten glass workshop.

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“I just checked out yesterday and was looking for something fun to do,” Rebecca said. “We also have one of the glass pumpkins, they are beautiful.”

Lillianna was making molten glass pumpkins in the workshop.

“It’s fun,” she said. “You have to be very precise in your cuts.”

Alex Newhall, a studio artist and teacher at Goggleworks, helped students with their fused glass creations.

“You take different pieces of glass, put them together and cut them as you want,” Newhall said. “Then you put them in the oven and they melt together.”

Pumpkins, ghosts and candy corn were some of the pieces of glass made by the students.