Published: September 25, 2008 01:32 pm         

PumpkinFest is expected to be bigger than ever

By MICHELLE MILLER
Staff Writer

Cooperstown’s PumpkinFest gets bigger and bigger each year, and this year is expected to be the largest since its start five years ago. The annual festival is organized by the Cooperstown Chamber of Commerce, and office manager Elise Schiellack said organizers are hoping for not only the biggest turnout of spectators this year, but also more pumpkins than ever before. Schiellack said the largest prize package in the country is being offered, and she believes this will attract more pumpkin growers from afar to come join the festivities. The grand prize, which will go to the grower of the largest pumpkin, is $4,000. Schiellack said several towns and villages hold fall festivals, but none are quite like PumpkinFest.

``It’s just unique,’’ she said. ``It is not every day people get to see giant pumpkins and it is especially neat to see them racing in the lake. It is not something every town has.’’ The festival will kick off Saturday morning at 10 a.m., with a weigh-off of giant pumpkins and other vegetables in the Doubleday Field Parking Lot. Contestants will compete for over $8,000 in prize money.

Last year’s winner of the pumpkin weighoff was Bill Bobier from Windsor, N.Y. His pumpkin weighed a whopping 1,376 pounds, only 31 pounds short of the state record. Randy Sundstrom, of Walton, N.Y., came a close second with a 1,367.5 pound pumpkin. Third place went to a 1,354.5 pound orange giant raised by Rich Vogler of North Branch, N.Y.

The Pumpkin Regatta is by far the most popular event, said Schiellack. On Sunday, giant pumpkins will be hollowed out in Lakefront Park and made seaworthy for racing across the lake. Racing heats will begin at 11 a.m. There will be three heats, and race times will depend on how long each race takes, said Schiellack. For those adventurers out there who would like to paddle a pumpkin, there are still sponsorships available at the $250 level.

Sponsorship is also available without getting into a pumpkin boat at the $25 and $50 level. If interested in sponsoring the community event or if interested in making a general donation call the Chamber office at 547- 6015.

Other favorite activities at PumpkinFest include the craft fair, pumpkin tasting hosted by the Cooperstown Methodist Church, and food booths, said Schiellack. The event is great for everyone — young and old, added Schiellack. She said kids typically enjoy the bouncy inflatable toys, the magician and the juggler, all which will be back again this year.

For the first time, people will have the opportunity to enjoy some of the sounds of the Cooperstown Concert Series during Pumpkin- Fest. The concert of the series, which will consist of bluegrass music, will be held Sunday at noon at Lakefront Park.

``We are expecting a good crowd for that,’’ said Schiellack. During last year’s pumpkin weigh-off, officials announced that the world record had been beaten at the Topsfield Fair in Topsfield, Mass., by a 1,689 pound beast.

John Bullis, Executive Director of the Chamber of Commerce at the time, said it was disappointing to have the record broken at a different location on the same day Cooperstown was hosting the same event. However, he added growers would be working hard to come close to the 1,689 pound record for this year’s PumpkinFest.