The Western Youth Network will be hosting their 4th Annual Valle Crucis Punkin Fest on Saturday, October 24 at the Mast General Store Annex in Valle Crucis. Why "punkin"? " 'Cause it's so much more fun than pumpkin!

Organizers said the Punkin Festival will feature pumpkin carving, old-fashioned games, crafts, face painting, live music, and home-cooked food. Kids and their parents have an artistic outlet to carve their Jack-o-Lanterns with no muss and no fuss. Festival volunteers "cut and gut" the pumpkins for you!

The event is sponsored by Mast General Store and all the proceeds will go to benefit the after school, mentoring, and prevention programs at WYN.  The Western Youth Network, a nonprofit group serving youth and families in Ashe, Avery and Watauga Counties, could really use the extra funding; the state cut two grants this year when North Carolina trimmed
its budget.

The event will be held from 11:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 24.

For more information call 828-963-6511 or visit:  http://www.maststore.com/punkin/index.cfm