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Festival brings back the pumpkins |
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Wednesday, 24 September 2008 |
By KATIE YANTIS
Staff Writer
NEW BREMEN — Pumpkins have been put to the test in air, water and this year by land in New Bremen.
New Bremen is set for the 2008 New Bremen Pumpkinfest. In 2006, the giant pumpkins were dropped from cranes onto old cars, last year, boats were made to travel down the canal. This year participants will be building a race car and even have a pit crew.
The festival started with a giant pumpkin weigh-off, followed by the world’s largest pumpkin pie.
“The year we had the pumpkin pie anywhere between 3,000 to 4,000 were there,” Festival co-organizer Greg Reynolds said. “We probably will have a couple of thousand throughout the day this year, hopefully with the weather there will be that many or more.”
After taking pumpkins to the water, the festival crew have a new idea for this year.
“We always come up with something a little different every year to do with giant pumpkins,” Reynolds said.
“We are racing carts down the street — no engine involved.”
The committee not only decided to have race carts, but decided to add an extra hint of fun to the big attraction this year.
“We have a NASCAR theme event this year,” Reynolds said.
“There will be groups of four or five guys with jacks. We’ll make them change a tire, then they will have a driver and they will push them down the street.”
The raceway will be set on Plum Street, right in front of Crown Pavilion.
Outside of the race, another big attraction that has continued through the years will be the giant pumpkin weigh-off.
“The unloading is in the morning and people like to watch all of the big pumpkins coming in,” Reynolds said.
Last year’s giant pumpkin weigh-off winner was Dave Stelts from Pennsylvania, second place went to Jerry Rose.
A new item on the list of festivities will be a professional pumpkin carver from Columbus.
“We had a giant pumpkin featured on ESPN,” Reynolds said. “He carved one of our giant pumpkins of Woody Hayes and Bo Schembechler. He will be there carving a 500-700 pound pumpkin.”
While parents are cruising down Plum Street, the kids will be able to take part in the Pumpkin Olympics or enjoy inflatable rides.
The Olympics games will include a variety of events.
“The first one is the chuck — the kids will throw a 2 pound pumpkin and shot put it for distance,” Reynolds said. “The second will be spit (seeds) and roll a 2 pound pumpkin.”
All of the kids who participate will receive a certificate of participation, but there will also be a gold, silver and bronze medal.
“There are three divisions for the Olympics, 6 to 8-years-old, 9 to 11-years-old, 12 to 14-years-old.
The festival will begin at 7 a.m. Saturday. Other events include, the antique tractor show, a pie contest and a beanbag tournament.
There also will be free live entertainment at 7:30 p.m. Saturday by the band “Free Rider.”
The Ohio State University Buckeyes game will be shown on a big screen as well. The festival will close at midnight. |
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Last Updated ( Thursday, 02 October 2008 )
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