This past week, Cathy and I ventured to the Circleville Pumpkin Show—a festival so renowned in Ohio that it draws tens of thousands of visitors, even on a weekday afternoon. Cathy and I share a love of people-watching. Our trip to Circleville, then, was more than a quest for pumpkin donuts; it was a chance to see what stories we might find in the crowd.

From the moment we arrived—having paid $20 to park—we waded into a sea of people. The lines for carnival rides and food stalls snaked down the blocks; the bakery queue for pumpkin donuts stretched so far that we decided our craving could wait another year. Cathy eyed a deep-fried turkey leg, briefly tempted until the price ($18!) cooled her enthusiasm. I avoid meat and milk products, so my food adventure was limited—but my senses were overloaded by everything else.

Everywhere we looked: people, people, people. Teenagers in Halloween costumes, many themed around death (grim reapers seemed especially popular), senior citizens in their Buckeye shirts, young families with babies riding in strollers so large they might have been repurposed from horse-drawn wagons. The cacophony of voices, the shriek of carnival rides, the shouts of a sidewalk preacher, and the earnest pitches from political booths all blended into a soundtrack uniquely its own.

For a prose writer, this kind of setting is pure gold. The festival’s main drag and side streets were packed with stories just waiting to be discovered: the couple arguing over which pumpkin bread to buy, the group of friends laughing too loudly near the largest pumpkin (just under 2,000 pounds, a marvel in orange), the child wide-eyed with awe on her father’s shoulders. Each moment was a snapshot of life in all its messy, vibrant, occasionally ridiculous glory.

As writers, we often focus on individual characters or quiet moments—but the energy of a crowd can open up new possibilities for prose. Here’s a challenge inspired by my Circleville adventure:

1. Pick a Setting: Imagine a festival or fair, packed with people. Let your own memories (or the atmosphere described here) guide you.
2. Focus on Observation: Write a paragraph that captures the mood and movement of the crowd. Use vivid sensory details—sounds, smells, colors, snippets of overheard conversation.
3. Find Your Character: From within the crowd, select one person who stands out. Describe them in context. What are they doing? How do they react to the hubbub around them?
4. Layer Meaning: Let the crowd’s energy reflect something about your character’s inner state—a tension, a longing, a sense of belonging or alienation.

Cathy and I left the Pumpkin Show without donuts or turkey legs, but I brought home an inventory of impressions. If you ever find yourself in a crowd, don’t just move through—watch, listen, and collect. The next great story may be waiting at the edge of a funnel cake line, or just behind a stroller shaped like a wagon.

Festivals like the Circleville Pumpkin Show are more than events; they’re kaleidoscopes of character and emotion. For prose writers, they offer endless material—snapshots, dialogue, conflict, and connection. So grab a notebook, step into the throng, and let your writer’s eye take it all in.