French Lick's Pumpkin Festival handed kids free ride bracelets

Orange County's 58th annual Pumpkin Festival in downtown French Lick was free to walk into, with bingo, raffles, music, rides, food, and vendors, Indiana Public Media reported. It was the fifth year the festival gave children free bracelets for the rides. The Matt C. Harris Foundation for Kids helped pay for them, and the foundation said more than 300 bracelets went out, along with diapers and other supplies for young families.

Dustin Farris, who has worked with the festival for about 45 years, told the station the point is the kids. He said coming to a carnival there is, for a lot of local children, like a trip to Disney, and for many it is the only chance they get. Friends of Orange County Festivals, which has run the event for three years, also awarded 12 scholarships from bingo, raffles, sponsorships, and vendor fees.