Pumpkins from last year’s Festival of the Pumpkins. Photos by Sally Y. Hart

October is a busy month with a variety of activities for all ages at the Washington Public Library. The Festival of the Pumpkins begins this week with residents welcome to bring in painted and decorated pumpkins to display throughout the month. Saturday is the monthly Washington Writers’ Workshop with Jorge Guerra from the University of Iowa. A Broadway-themed noon concert will be held featuring Mike Jewell and Linda Soukup October 13th.

Debbie Stanton, director of the Washington Public Library, shares they’ll cap off the month with the Johnson County Paranormal Team talking about ghost hunting in Iowa. They’ll bring equipment and video from their investigations. October will come to a close on Halloween with trick-or-treat around the square, led by the child who wins the Festival of the Pumpkins.

Stanton adds the events are created by library staff and she enjoys the variety and providing programs for the community.