City of Kingston gives a $25,000 boost to rural events and attractions

The City of Kingston announced the five recipients of the 2025 Rural Community Program Fund at the Kingston Fire and Rescue station in Glenburnie on Thursday morning. This pilot project supports community events and programs celebrating rural life and culture. Each winner received up to $5,000 to enhance their programming.

In March 2025, the application process was opened to the public. Since then, city staff and the Rural Economic and Community Working Group have assessed 18 applications based on criteria of community impact, financial feasibility, opportunity for collaboration and tourism potential.

Among the winners was a fall pumpkin smashing event by Forman Farms on Brewers Mills Road. It will take place over two weekends, Sept. 27-28 and Oct. 4-5. This fall country festival includes locally grown food, food truck venders, a five-acre corn maze, face painting, tractor and wagon rides, free pumpkins for carving, a photo corner, music – and a 4,000 PSI pumpkin cannon mounted on a boom truck with a swivel arm.

According to Charlie Forman of Forman Farms, it should be a big draw.

By Bill Hall, Kingston Whig Standard