When I hear Bing Crosby sing “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year,” I don’t automatically think of Christmas. I think of that week in mid-October when the town of Circleville, Ohio transforms itself into the “Greatest Free Show on Earth:” the Circleville Pumpkin Show.
I went with my family today, and we enjoyed the usual bustling crowd, screaming kids on fair rides, and pumpkins galore. Not only can you buy more pumpkins than one human being could possibly need, you can sample all sorts of goodies infused with pumpkin: fudge, waffles, chili, sloppy joes, cream puffs, you name it.
And if breakfast is your thing – like me – you can get your fill at the pumpkin show. Actually, I think I saw more specific breakfast options today than in years past. A couple highlights: pictured above is Gibson’s Cafe, your stop for sausage gravy & biscuits. They offer coffee as well, but I recommend seeking out some of the pumpkin coffees around the festival instead.
The Kiwanis club is serving pumpkin pancakes all day. Options include plates of one, two, or three pancakes, plus a side of sausage.
And the real breakfast draw? A taste of donuts, the rock star of the morning pastry world. Several different food stands serve up large and small pumpkin donuts, but everyone knows you really need to line up outside Lindsey’s Bakery for some of the best.
Don’t be intimidated by the line. It moves quickly.
Inside you’ll find a cream-colored, hasn’t-changed-for-decades bakery with carpeted floors. It’s about as old school, small town as you can get. The team at Lindsey’s will serve over 100,000 of their pumpkin donuts during the four days of the festival.
With a “friendly” reminder that they do, indeed, make these donuts year round.
Lindsey’s pumpkin donuts are some of my all-time favorites. They’re cakey, a little spicy, with a thin glaze. Get ’em warm, and you’ll get a true taste of fall with these beauties.
