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Giant Pumpkins, racing gourds featured at festival
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| Giant Pumpkins will be out in full force this weekend at the Elk Grove Giant Pumpkin and Harvest Festival held at Elk Grove Regional Park |
By Citizen Staff
If you’re looking for gigantic pumpkins, adventurous pumpkin-boat paddlers, and more scarecrows than most people have ever seen, there’s only one place for you this weekend.
That place is the Elk Grove Giant Pumpkin and Harvest Festival, which kicks off its 2008 edition tomorrow at 10 a.m. in Elk Grove Regional Park. The festival may have a new name but all the same favorite events and activities are still there.
The festival is organized by the Cosumnes Community Services District and has been a popular fall attraction in Elk Grove for many years as attendees and competitors come from all over Northern California to celebrate fall and all things related to pumpkins.
The highlight for most people at the festival is the sight of the humungous pumpkins brought by industrious growers from all over the region – many weighing more than 1,000 pounds.
This year’s theme is party politics and patriotism – with the scarecrow contest taking center stage. The Great American Scarecrows Contest will feature some wildly decorated scarecrows with the winner taking home $350. Competitors will set up their creations by 9 a.m. Saturday and they will remain up for display through the closing of the festival Sunday night.
Of course, a Giant Pumpkin festival couldn’t live up to its billing without a giant pumpkin contest.
Growers from all over will begin delivering their pumpkins on Saturday morning between 7 and 9 a.m. The weighing of pumpkins will commence at 9 a.m. and continue until all pumpkins are weighed. The weigh-in is estimated to be finished by 1 p.m.
Last year’s winner was won by Napa grower Pete Glasier, who managed to grow a pumpkin weighing a massive 1,535.5 pounds – more than 300 pounds heavier than the second place finisher, Eric Carlson of Portola. Jon Hunt of Elk Grove was the best local finisher in 2007, with a pumpkin weighing 755.5 pounds.
There are also contests for various other types of produce, including heaviest tomato, cantaloupe, watermelon, zucchini, and squash. There are also contests for tallest corn stalk; longest gourd; sunflower with biggest diameter; and a people’s choice award.
Although there are plenty of cool events, contests, and some good entertainment on the Freedom Stage, the real fun and laughs may be on Sunday when the Pumpkin Boat Race is held.
In its second year, the Pumpkin Boat Race takes place in the lake and entrants must paddle their pumpkin boat across first to take home the $500 prize. In 2007, many of the competitors’ pumpkin craft sank – despite the fact that giant pumpkins can float. The race should provide plenty of watery laughs for spectators as well as some good video for YouTube.
The festival also features a car show; a craft fair; lots of tasty fall-themed food; family entertainment; and pumpkin carving demonstrations. The event runs Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, check out the Cosumnes CSD Web site at www.yourcsd.com.
That place is the Elk Grove Giant Pumpkin and Harvest Festival, which kicks off its 2008 edition tomorrow at 10 a.m. in Elk Grove Regional Park. The festival may have a new name but all the same favorite events and activities are still there.
The festival is organized by the Cosumnes Community Services District and has been a popular fall attraction in Elk Grove for many years as attendees and competitors come from all over Northern California to celebrate fall and all things related to pumpkins.
The highlight for most people at the festival is the sight of the humungous pumpkins brought by industrious growers from all over the region – many weighing more than 1,000 pounds.
This year’s theme is party politics and patriotism – with the scarecrow contest taking center stage. The Great American Scarecrows Contest will feature some wildly decorated scarecrows with the winner taking home $350. Competitors will set up their creations by 9 a.m. Saturday and they will remain up for display through the closing of the festival Sunday night.
Of course, a Giant Pumpkin festival couldn’t live up to its billing without a giant pumpkin contest.
Growers from all over will begin delivering their pumpkins on Saturday morning between 7 and 9 a.m. The weighing of pumpkins will commence at 9 a.m. and continue until all pumpkins are weighed. The weigh-in is estimated to be finished by 1 p.m.
Last year’s winner was won by Napa grower Pete Glasier, who managed to grow a pumpkin weighing a massive 1,535.5 pounds – more than 300 pounds heavier than the second place finisher, Eric Carlson of Portola. Jon Hunt of Elk Grove was the best local finisher in 2007, with a pumpkin weighing 755.5 pounds.
There are also contests for various other types of produce, including heaviest tomato, cantaloupe, watermelon, zucchini, and squash. There are also contests for tallest corn stalk; longest gourd; sunflower with biggest diameter; and a people’s choice award.
Although there are plenty of cool events, contests, and some good entertainment on the Freedom Stage, the real fun and laughs may be on Sunday when the Pumpkin Boat Race is held.
In its second year, the Pumpkin Boat Race takes place in the lake and entrants must paddle their pumpkin boat across first to take home the $500 prize. In 2007, many of the competitors’ pumpkin craft sank – despite the fact that giant pumpkins can float. The race should provide plenty of watery laughs for spectators as well as some good video for YouTube.
The festival also features a car show; a craft fair; lots of tasty fall-themed food; family entertainment; and pumpkin carving demonstrations. The event runs Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, check out the Cosumnes CSD Web site at www.yourcsd.com.
