MEDIA ADVISORY – PHOTO OP: Camp Sunshine Pumpkin Festival - Featuring Display of 10,000 Lit Jack-o-Lanterns – in Freeport on Saturday

L.L. Bean to host pumpkin-filled day aimed at raising $100,000 to help children with life-threatening illnesses and their families

A pumpkin house taking shape outside L.L. Bean.

WHAT:                  The 10^th annual Camp Sunshine Pumpkin Festival, presented by Hancock Lumber and TD Bank. PHOTO OPs: kid’s activities, costume parade, corporate carving challenge, pumpkin whoopie pie eating contest and a spectacular display of 10,000 illuminated jack-o-lanterns.

WHEN:                 THIS SATURDAY (Oct. 27), noon-8 p.m.

WHERE:               L.L. Bean store in downtown Freeport, Maine

WHO:                    All proceeds from the event will go to help Camp Sunshine, a one-of-a-kind national retreat in Casco, Maine for children with life-threatening illnesses and their families.

WHY COVER:      10,000 illuminated jack-o-lanterns is nearly twice as many as last year’s 5,200. Plus, 25,000+ people from all over Maine expected to attend the festival!

MORE INFO:       Camp Sunshine has set a goal to raise $100,000 – enough to sponsor an entire week at Camp Sunshine for 50+ families in need. Festival participants can help by sponsoring pumpkins for $10 each (every $10 donation is entered into drawing for round-trip tickets on JetBlue and $100 L.L. Bean gift cards). As of Oct. 24, Camp Sunshine is 2,797 pumpkins short of its goal of 10,000 sponsored pumpkins. To sponsor a pumpkin(s) prior to the festival, visit www.campsunshine.org/pumpkinfestival or text CAMP to 20222.

CONTACT:          Matthew M. Hoidal, Esq., Executive Director, (207) 655-3800 mhoidal@campsunshine.org

WEBSITE:            www.campsunshine.org/pumpkinfestival

Preparations for the Camp Sunshine Pumpkin Festival are underway...

Hancock Lumber hauling a load of more than 700 carved pumpkins from Lake Region High School

Students from Westbrook High School carved pumpkins at L.L. Bean on Friday

Pumpkins getting set in place, ready to be illuminated on Saturday.

About Camp Sunshine

Camp Sunshine offers children with life-threatening illnesses and their families a place to relax together for a week, and to take a break from the extraordinary demands placed upon them on a daily basis. The year-round program is free of charge and staffed almost entirely by volunteers. It is the only program in the nation whose mission is to address the impact of a life-threatening illness on every member of the immediate family — the ill child, the parents and the siblings. Since its inception in 1984, Camp Sunshine has provided a haven for more than 32,000 individuals from diverse cultural backgrounds. In addition to providing 24-hour on-site medical and psychosocial support, the camp offers a variety of daily activities, including swimming, boating, archery and soccer, and special events such as bonfires and cookouts. To support Camp Sunshine, please call (207) 655-3800 or visit www.campsunshine.org.

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Here is more information about Camp Sunshine