28th Annual Allardt Great Pumpkin Festival and Weigh-off Set for Oct. 5
By Sandra Turner
It’s pumpkin time again in Allardt, Tennessee.
Somewhere a giant sprawls contented in the patch, coddled and gorged, gaining
20 pounds or more every day. Patiently he waits to mount the scales for his
moment of glory at Allardt’s Saturday, Oct. 5 weigh-off. Will he be the long
awaited 2,000 pounder? Maybe.
Tennessee, Kentucky, and Georgia state records
have been broken in previous years at the Allardt GPC weigh-off for both giant
pumpkins and green squash. Massive watermelons brought by world record holder
Chris Kent of Sevierville have been weighed in Allardt as well. The 2018 big
pumpkin winner was John Van Hook of Somerset, KY, with his 1,293 pound entry.
In 2017 John and James Van Hook broke the Allardt weigh-off record as well as
the state of Kentucky record with their 1,594 pound pumpkin.
Prizes of $1000, $600, and $400 will go to the
top pumpkin, watermelon, and green squash respectively, with lesser amount for
2nd through 5th place winners. An assortment of corn stalks, potatoes,
tomatoes, sunflowers and other entries will compete for recognition in addition
to the giant vegetables. The weigh-off at the Sandy’s Diner building is set for
10 a.m. until 1 p.m. (Central Time). Register your entries there from 8 a.m. to
9:45 a.m. John Gunter, Fentress County UT Agriculture Agent, is this event’s
site coordinator, and Dwight Dixon, USDA Fentress County Soil Conservation
District Conservationist, will again serve as master of ceremonies.
Thousands of festival goers will flock to this
favorite fall event, drawn by giant vegetables, plus a spectacular region-wide
auto show, food and craft vendors in Bruno Gernt Park, live entertainment
on-stage at City Hall, a Pumpkin Run, motorcycle and tractor shows, a parade at
3 p.m. (Central), and a children’s
costume contest (10 a.m.). Pooch Parade, a dog costume contest and this year’s new
event, will present at 4:30 p.m. as the final onstage program, sponsored by
Best Friends Sanctuary.
A pre-festival Great Pumpkin Beauty Pageant
sponsored by Clarkrange Drug Center is set for Sept. 28 in Jamestown. See more
information about entries and time schedules at the Allardt Pumpkin Festival
Facebook page or allardtpumpkinfestival.com.
Pumpkin Festival Chairman Cathy
Jeffers will officially open the festival at 10 a.m. (Central) October 5 at
Allardt City Hall with introductions of the 2019 Festival King and Queen and
pageant winners from the September 28 event. A costume contest sponsored by
Progressive Savings Bank for children up to age 12 will follow. Register for
the contest beside the stage at 9:30 a.m.
Live music and entertainment on stage at City
Hall starts at 12:30 p.m. to run until the 3 p.m. parade. Singers and musicians
resume following the parade at 3:45 p.m. Headlining the event will be The Lovers from NBC’s show “The Voice” with
performances also by musical groups, Southern Comfort and Higher Ground.
William Bilbrey (Millenium Sound) is entertainment coordinator.
Stephen Williams, assisted by the York Institute
Cheerleaders, spearheads the Clyde and Zelia Stephens Memorial Auto Show,
sponsored by O’Reilly Auto Parts. Register your entry from 8 a.m. until noon at
the 4-way stop in Allardt. Entries can expect lots of prizes, awards, and cash
giveaways.
The
Motorcycle Show, coordinated by J.J. Johnson and sponsored by Micro Metals
Inc.,
will also present trophies and prizes. Antique
tractor exhibitors will gather near the auto show and participate along with
autos and motorcycles in the 3 p.m. parade. Dustin Garrett coordinates the
tractor show, sponsored by Twin Lakes Lawn & Tractor, Cookeville, and
Garrett Tractor Repair and Restoration, Jamestown.
Runners start off the day at 7 a.m. (Central) at
Allardt School for the annual Pumpkin Run, a qualifying race this year. There
are 10k, 5k, and 3k runs and a one-mile Fun Run. Pick up an entry form at Hall
Family Pharmacy, event sponsor in Jamestown. You may also register the
morning of the run. A portion of the proceeds will go to benefit to benefit the
Kirby Johnson Ballpark and Fentress County Youth Sports.
Quality Private Care is also sponsoring this
event.
The Pumpkin Festival Parade, a
highlight of the day, will step off at 3 p.m. led by the winning giant pumpkin
and the Festival King and Queen. Crystal Tompkins is
parade chairman.
For the best festival food in the
Southeast make your way to the Bruno Gernt Park and sample the highly sought
pumpkin rolls, fried pies, fried Oreos, pumpkin and nut breads, rolled ice
cream, and the usual funnel cakes and specialty popcorn. There is more
substantial fare as well – tasty barbecue at the Allardt Fire Hall, plus
hamburgers, hot dogs, pinto beans and corn bread, and barbecue from vendors in
the park.
Shop for festival t-shirts at the
Information Booth #4 in the park. Scores of vendors will offer crafts and
decorative items, including handmade wreaths, quilts, afghans, Christmas
decorations, wood crafts, artwork, jewelry, purses, and numerous other items.
Vendor park sponsors are Micro Metals, Inc. and Top of the Hill Properties.
Cathy Jeffers is coordinator.
This event is totally free to attend
and there is no charge for parking in designated parking areas.
For more information on events and
times, see the Allardt Pumpkin Festival Facebook page or
AllardtPumpkinFestival.com or the Fentress Courier for a full event schedule.
