Big changes announced for Oct. 1 festival

 Big changes announced
for Allardt’s Great Pumpkin Festival
and Weigh-off, Saturday, Oct. 1

ALLARDT, TENN. – After a record breaking 2021 event for both giant pumpkins and crowd size, big changes are set for the 2022 Allardt Great Pumpkin Festival and Weigh-off on Saturday, Oct. 1.

Prize money for the 2022 winning pumpkin will be $1.50 per pound, thanks to our weigh-off sponsors. Orange sponsors are The Quality Family, Micro Metals PM Inc., and Hall’s Family Pharmacy. Green sponsor: Dr. Dilip Joshi, M.D.  Red sponsors include Fentress County Farm Bureau, One Bank
, Guffey Law, and Jimmy Johnson, Fentress County Executive.

This year’s James Asberry Memorial Weigh-off will move from the previous Sandy’s Diner location to the Allardt School parking lot, providing more space for both entries and spectators. Excitement is high since last year two pumpkin entries weighed more than 2,000 pounds each.

To help relieve the over crowding and backed up traffic of previous years, the Clyde and Zelia Stephens Memorial Auto and Motorcycle Show is moved to Saturday, Oct. 8 at the Allardt School parking lot. That date is the Saturday following the Oct. 1 Pumpkin Festival. Some vendors are being invited to set up at the Oct. 8 show to provide the usual shopping experience the car show families enjoy.

For the first time in three decades Allardt celebrated the long awaited appearance of a 2,000 plus pound pumpkin at the 2021 weigh-off. Robert Cyrus broke the West Virginia state record and also the Allardt weigh-off record with his entry weighing 2,194 lbs.

Scott Bayuk, Kentucky state giant pumpkin record holder, brought a giant weighing 2,376 lbs. But Great Pumpkin Commonwealth (GPC) and local weigh-off rules required it to be disqualified because of a flaw that developed in the mature pumpkin. Weigh-off fans look forward to Scott’s entry in this year’s contest.

Here is the 2022 prize schedule for pumpkins, watermelons, and green squash.
Pumpkins - First place - $1.50/lb (2nd – 7th place – $400, $300, $200, $100, $50, $50)
Watermelons - First place - $1000 (2nd – 5th place – $500, $200, $100, $50)
Green Squash - First place - $500  (2nd – 5th place – $300, $200, $100, $50)
Prettiest Pumpkin - $100
Additional prize money will be awarded for other large fruits and vegetables.

This year’s festival will feature 190 plus vendors selling crafts, food, fall decorations, and various other items. The kick-off ceremony will be at 10 a.m. (Central Time) at City Hall. Chairman Cathy Jeffers will introduce the festival King and Queen and beauty pageant winners.

Other events include the annual pumpkin run, an antique tractor show, a pumpkin pie and pumpkin roll contest, a children’s costume contest, singers and musicians performing on stage at city hall, and the annual 3 p.m. parade. The traditional barbecue dinners will be available at the Allardt Fire Hall. Multiple food vendors will be set up in the park and in other locations.

For more information (details, times, and locations) for events on Saturday, Oct. 1, as well as events on Saturday, Oct. 8, check the Allardt Pumpkin Festival Facebook page and/or www.allardtpumpkinfestival.com. Allardt is in the Central Time zone.

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2022 Allardt Pumpkin Festival Schedule of Events

 31st Annual Allardt Great Pumpkin Festival
and Weigh-off, Saturday, October 1, & Other Event Dates

2022 Schedule of Events

Please review the below schedule for location changes. The main Festival and Weigh-Off is always held on the first Saturday in October which is October 1 this year. The Auto and Cycle Show will be held on October 8. We apologize for any inconvenience these changes may cause.

Festival Kick-off Ceremonies –10 a.m. at Allardt City Hall. Chairman Cathy Jeffers will welcome everyone and present the 2022 Great Pumpkin Festival King and Queen and the 2022 Allardt Pumpkin Festival Beauty Pageant winners. Sponsored by Jimtown Florist.

Pumpkin Run – Online registration ends on Friday, September 30, at 11:59 pm. Go to https://runsignup.com/Race/TN/Allardt/31stAnnualAllardtGreatPumpkinFestivalPumpkinRun
to preregister and get a tee shirt the day of the race. Day of race registration 7 am to 7:45 am at Allardt Elementary School (220 Portland Avenue). Shirts may not be available for late registrants. 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. Sponsored by Hall Family Pharmacy and 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 a.m. to 9:45 a.m. at the Allardt Elementary School East parking lot. Entry fee $10. The actual weigh-off will take place between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.  Allardt is an official GPC weigh-off site.

NEW Prize Schedule

Pumpkins - First place - $1.50/lb (2nd – 7th place – $400, $300, $200, $100, $50, $50)
Watermelons - First place - $1000 (2nd – 5th place – $500, $200, $100, $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

Hall Family Pharmacy; Micro Metals PM Inc.; The Quality Family; Dilip Joshi; Fentress County Farm Bureau; Guffey Law; Jimmy Johnson, Fentress County Executive; and One Bank.

Antique Tractor Show - 9 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. Central Time at the Allardt 4-Way Stop. ALL antique tractors welcome and encouraged to participate in the Parade!
Event Chairman – Wesley Anderson 931-239-2304.
Sponsored by Anderson Farm Services.


Pumpkin Pie & Roll Contest - Registration Saturday from 8 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 at noon on stage at City Hall.
Sponsored and conducted by Amanda Hicks, Fentress County Clerk.

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 Smart Bank.

Pumpkin Festival Parade - 3 p.m. As usual, parade entries will line up on the Baseline Road. 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, Sept. 29. Call Ashley Bilbrey at 397-0300  to register and for additional information.  

Entertainment and On Stage Schedule – Allardt City Hall. William Bilbrey, Entertainment Chairman.

12:00 – 12:45 pm Gary Anderson
1:00 – 1:45 pm Jeff Crouch
2:00 – 2:45 pm Jarrett Grubbs
3:00 – 3:30 pm Parade/Main Stage Break
4:00 – 4:45 pm Tim Ledbetter & Charles Beaty
5:00 – 5:45 pm Southern Comfort

Sponsored by Representatives Kelly Keisling and John Mark Windle.

Crafts and Food Vendors  - Bruno Gernt Park and directly behind the park at the FCBE Alternative School, all day. All vendors set up anywhere in Allardt and who have not paid the festival vendor fee are asked to purchase a vendor's permit for $25 at Allardt City Hall and keep it at their site during the festival, with the exception of land owners on their own property. The permit verifies that vendors have helped support the festival by their contribution toward festival expenses. Cathy Jeffers, event Chairman.

Saturday, October 8, 2022

Clyde and Zelia Stephens Memorial Auto Show & Motorcycle Show – On-site Registration Saturday, October 8, from 8 a.m. – noon Central Time at the Allardt Elementary School. $10 registration fee to cover event costs. ALL cars, trucks, and cycles welcome.
Event Chairman: Stephen Williams, 931-265-3264.
Sponsored by NAPA, Dave Kirk Automotive, and O’Reilly Auto Parts

A Special Thank You to the following Sponsors and Service Providers:

Allardt Presbyterian Church; Allardt Real Estate Co; Amanda Hicks, Fentress County Clerk; Anderson Farm Services; Builtwell Bank; City of Jamestown; Clarkrange Drug Center; Dave Kirk Automotive; Dilip Joshi; Fentress County Ambulance Service; Fentress County Chamber of Commerce;Fentress County EMA; Fentress County Farm Bureau; Fentress County Sheriff's Dept; Fentress Farmers Cooperative; Guffey Law; Hall Family Pharmacy; Jimmy Johnson,  Fentress Co Executive; Jimtown Florist; Micro Metals PM Inc; Moody's Automotive; NAPA; One Bank; O'Reilly Auto Parts; R & T Trophy; Representative John Mark Windle;; Representative Kelly Keisling; Senator Ken Yager; Smart Bank; TDOT; The Quality Family; Twin Lakes Telephone Coop; and Union Bank.

2022 Prize sponsors for First Place Pumpkin

 

 Thanks to some wonderful Weigh-Off Sponsors, we now have a higher payout for the 1st Place Pumpkin at the 10/1/22 Great Pumpkin Festival and Weigh-Off in Allardt, Tennessee! The winning pumpkin grower will take home $1.50/lb. We saw 2 entries in 2021 over 2,000 lbs. Can't wait to see some giants this year at the Allardt Elementary School, 220 Portland Avenue.

 

The 2022 Allardt Pumpkin Festival Brochure

 

 

Thanks to sponsors and contributors .... BIG changes coming for 2022 Allardt Pumpkin Festival

 

THANK YOU TO THOSE WHO HELPED MAKE THE OCT. 2 FESTIVAL ONE OF THE BIGGEST AND BEST EVER .... AND BIG CHANGES COMING IN 2022.

 

The festival committee and the City of Allardt extend a grateful thank you to all the sponsors, contributors, vendors, and volunteers who helped make the 2021 Allardt Great Pumpkin Festival and Weigh-off such a resounding success.

 

It was a record breaking, awesome day in so many respects. Pumpkin growers wowed us with the two giant entries weighing over 2,000 pounds each, breaking weight records for the Allardt event. The pumpkin entered by Robert Cyrus, at 2,194 pounds set a new record for the state of West Virginia.

 

We’re dreaming about that world record pumpkin that may make his appearance in 2022. All things are possible now that we’ve broken the 2,000-pound barrier. With the increase in sponsorship and prize money, we expect even more entries in the Weigh-Off; therefore, we will be moving the Weigh-Off location to the East side of the Allardt Elementary School parking lot. This will provide needed space and improve the safety of spectators as well as provide a smooth surface for the tow motor to move those giants around.

 

In an effort to downsize the crowd a little and cut back on the traffic, we will be moving the Clyde and Zelia Stephens Memorial Auto Show to the Saturday following the actual Festival and Weigh-Off, which is always the first Saturday in October. This move will also allow the Auto Show to move to the paved parking lot at Allardt Elementary. 

 

We realize there is always room for improvement with any event of this magnitude. Our number one goal is to always provide a safe and family-friendly day of entertainment that does not cost money every step you take. We continue to enjoy free parking, thanks to several land owners, free entertainment, and lots of great events. The volunteer Festival Committee welcomes all interested parties to join us the second Tuesday of each month starting in May as we meet at Allardt City Hall at 7:00 pm to plan for the next big Festival.

 

An event like this would be impossible without our faithful sponsors, financial and in-kind. We are so grateful to them for their support and contributions. Many thanks to these individuals and businesses for the wonderful event they gave us.

 

Allardt Real Estate Co., Amanda Hicks, Candidate for Fentress County Clerk, Anderson Farm Services, City of Jamestown, Clarkrange Drug Center, County Executive Jimmy Johnson, Dave Kirk Automotive, Dr. Dilip Joshi, Fentress County Ambulance Service, Fentress County Chamber of Commerce, Fentress County EMA, Fentress County Farm Bureau, Fentress County Sheriff's Dept., Fentress County Soil Conservation District, Fentress Farmers Cooperative, First Volunteer Bank, Hall Family Pharmacy, Jimtown Florist, Micro Metals, Inc., NAPA Auto Parts, One Bank, O'Reilly Auto Parts, R&T Trophy, Representative John Mark Windle, Representative Kelly Keisling, Senator Ken Yager, Smart Bank, The Quality Family, TN Department of Transportation, TN Highway Patrol, Top of the Hill Cabins, Twin Lakes Telephone Coop, and Union Bank.

Scott Bayuk of Adair County, Kentucky, showed a 2376 lb. pumpkin entry, which unfortunately had a hole and was disqualified... But weighed anyway

 

Watermelon winner. 291.4 lbs. Jeremy Terry, Helenwood, TN.