34th Annual Allardt Great Pumpkin Festival
and Weigh-off, Saturday, October 4, 2025
Revised July 14, 2025
Pre-Festival Event – Annual Pumpkin Festival Beauty Pageant
This event will be held on Saturday, September 20, 2025 at York Institute Auditorium. Details and entry forms can be found on the Allardt Pumpkin Festival Pageant Facebook page. Event Chairmen: Julia Purcell 931-704-1240 and Emma Wright 931-704-2003. The winners will be introduced at the kick-off ceremonies at the Festival. Sponsored by Clarkrange Drug Center.
Festival Kick-off Ceremonies –10 a.m. at Allardt City Hall. Welcome and introduction of the 2025 Great Pumpkin Festival King with the Festival Beauty Pageant winners. Sponsored by Jimtown Florist.
Pumpkin Run –Online registration will be available soon. Day of race registration 7 a.m. to 7:45 a.m. at Allardt Elementary School (220 Portland Avenue). Shirts will only be available for on-line registrations prior to September 29th. Line-up 7:45 to 8 am and start time at 8 am Central Time. Categories of entry are 10K run, 5K run, and 1-mile Fun Run. Conducted by local runners and Flowers Trucking to benefit the YAI Bowling Teams. For additional information contact morgan@flowerstrucking.com.
“James Asberry Memorial Weigh-Off” of Pumpkins and Other Vegetables – Register your pumpkins, squash, watermelons, and other vegetables from 8:30 a.m. to 10:15 a.m. at the Allardt Elementary School East parking lot. Entry fee $10. The actual weigh-off will begin at 10:30 a.m. Allardt is an official GPC weigh-off site.
Prize Schedule
- Pumpkins - First place - $2,000 (2nd – 10thth place – $800, $600, $400, $300, $250, $200, $150, $100, $50)
- Watermelons - First place - $1,000 (2nd – 10th place – $700, $500, $300, $200, $150, $100, $50, $50, $50)
- Green Squash - First place - $500 (2nd – 5th place – $300, $200, $100, $50)
- Prettiest Pumpkin - $100
The big pumpkin winner must ride in the parade or be disqualified. See rules and regulations at www.allardtpumpkinfestival.com. Dwight Dickson will serve as master of ceremonies. John Gunter with the UT Extension Service will serve as the Site Coordinator. Weigh-Off sponsors to date: Clarkrange Drug Center; Guffey Law, PLLC; Representative Kelly Keisling; One Bank; The Quality Family; and R&T Trophy.
Antique Auto Show – On-site Registration Saturday, October 4, from 9 a.m. – noon Central Time or until full (Dash Plaques to the first 200) at the 4-Way Stop in Allardt. $15 registration fee to help cover Festival costs. Half of the registration fee will go to the Allardt Elementary School. All cars and trucks model year 2000 and older are welcome. Prizes and award categories to be announced soon.
- Contacts: Austin Andrews 626-676-3220 & Arron Daniels 707-502-1970
- Swap Meet Spaces should be scheduled prior to the day of the festival: $50 due before set up.
- A limited number of craft vendor spaces will be available at the Auto Show. Please indicate on your vendor application if you are interested in setting up in this area. Call City Hall at 931-879-7125 if you have already turned in a vendor application and would like to move to the Auto Show area.
Sponsored by O’Reilly Auto Parts.
Tractor Show - 9 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. Central Time at Woods and Water Outdoors, 1853 Taylor Place Road. ALL tractors welcome and encouraged to participate in the Parade!
- Event Chairman – Wesley Anderson – Anderson Farm Services - 931-239-2304
Faith and Blue – The TN Highway Patrol and law enforcement officials will again partner with Mt. Carmel Freewill Baptist Church for the Faith and Blue initiative. They plan to have the THP Motorcycle, the famous THP Litterbug, and the THP Slingshot located at The Allardt Land Company at the 4-Way stop. The Rollover Simulator will be there to show the importance of seatbelt usage. Special Operations will also bring out some of their equipment to display. The Recruiting Division will answer any questions about employment with THP. Free food and drinks, games and prizes for everyone.
Pumpkin Pie & Roll Contest - Registration Saturday from 9 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. Central Time at the Allardt Fire Hall. The $10 entry fee will go to the Allardt Volunteer Fire Department with the actual desserts being served with the BBQ meals purchased at the Fire Hall.
- Day of show registration for HOMEMADE only pies and rolls.
- 1st place $100, 2nd place $50, and 3rd place $25 in each of the two contests.
- Winners announced around noon on stage at City Hall.
- Sponsored and conducted by Amanda Hicks, Fentress County Clerk and Guffey Law, PLLC.
Children’s Costume Contest - Saturday from 10:00 a.m. – noon Central Time at Allardt City Hall Stage. FREE registration.
- Day of show registration only from 9:30 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. outside City Hall.
- Categories: Ages 0-2 years; 3-5 years; 6-8 years; 9-12 years; and group.
- Any costume theme acceptable. No live animals, please.
- Sponsored and conducted by SmartBank. Additional Sponsor: Guffey Law PLLC.
Pumpkin Festival Parade - 3 p.m. Entries will line up on the Baseline Road starting at 2:00 p.m. To line up, follow Highway 52 E from Allardt past the orange water tower to the Les Franklin Road. Turn left at the Les Franklin Road. Then enter the Baseline Road from the Les Franklin Road only. The deadline for entries is noon Thursday, October 4. Call Ashley Bilbrey at 931-397-0300 to register and for additional information.
FREE Entertainment On Stage presented by Xfinity – Allardt City Hall. Noon – 2:45 pm: Dawson Brown; Madelyn Tallent, and Preslee Campbell. William Bilbrey, Entertainment Chairman. Stage provided by City of Jamestown.
Crafts and Food Vendors - Bruno Gernt Park and directly behind the park at the FCBE Alternative School, all day 9:00 am – 5:00 pm. A limited number of craft vendor spaces will be available at the Auto Show. Cathy Jeffers and Erin Hancock, event Chairmen. Applications available on the Allardt Pumpkin Festival Facebook page or pick one up at Allardt City Hall.
A Special Thank You to our 2025 Financial Sponsors to Date
Amanda Hicks, Fentress County Clerk; Clarkrange Drug Center; Guffey Law, PLLC; Jimtown Florist; One Bank; O'Reilly Auto Parts; R&T Trophy; Representative Kelly Keisling; SmartBank; The Quality Family; Xfinity; and Union Bank.
The Great Pumpkin Festival and Weigh-Off Committee is again seeking sponsors for its many Festival-related events. You can find the Sponsor Letter with various levels of support options outlined on our Facebook page (Allardt Pumpkin Festival). Every donation, large or small, helps pay the prize money for the giant fruits and vegetables as well as provide the necessary services and supplies required. Our 2024 revenues did not keep up with the increased expenses, but we have identified some areas to trim and have every confidence that our faithful sponsors and some new sponsors will help fill in the gap this year. Thank you to everyone who has helped in the past! We couldn’t do it without you.
