Allardt's 29th Annual Great Pumpkin Festival and Weigh-off is set for Saturday, October 3. In a sincere attempt to follow the June 2020 Tennessee Pledge – Guidelines for Attractions, Large Venues, & Large Community Events – adjustments have been made to the program of events for this year only.
Pumpkin Run- Registration 7 a.m. to 7:45 a.m. Oct. 3 at Allardt School. Line-up 7:45 to 8 a.m., and start time at 8 a.m. Categories of entry are 10K run, 5K run, 3K, and 1 mile Fun Run. Entry fee is $15 for the 10k, 5K, and 3k, ($40 for family 3+ entries) and $10 for the 1 mile Fun Run. Sponsored by Hall Family Pharmacy to benefit the Pat Summitt Foundation. Entry forms available at Hall Family Pharmacy. Register the morning of the run or online at https://greatpumpkinfestivalpumpkinrun.itsyourrace.com/event.aspx?id=13570 .
Festival Kick-off Ceremonies –10 a.m. at Allardt City Hall. Chairman Cathy Jeffers will welcome everyone and present the 2020 Great Pumpkin Festival Royalty.
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 Sandy’s Diner building. 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.
- Pumpkins - First place - $1000 (2nd – 10th place – $400, $300, $200, $100, $50, $25)
- Watermelons - First place - $600 (2nd – 5th place – $300, $200, $100, $50)
- Green Squash - First place - $400 (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. Sponsors include Dr. Dilip Joshi, Clarkrange Drug Center, and Quality Family of Companies.
Clyde and Zelia Stephens Memorial Auto Show
Registration Saturday from 8 a.m. – noon Central Time at the 4-Way Stop in Allardt. $10 registration fee. ALL cars and trucks welcome!
- Awards to Top 25. Dash plaques to the first 300 entries.
- Gift Cards and Car Wash Bucket giveaways.
- Awards and prizes start at 2:00 p.m. day of show registration only.
- Swap meet spaces (auto related items only) 15’ x 20’ - $25.
- Event chairman: Stephen Williams, 931-265-3264.
- Sponsored by O’Reilly Auto Parts
Motorcycle Show
Registration Saturday from 8 a.m. – noon Central Time at Allardt Land Company. $10 registration fee. ALL motorcycles welcome!
- Awards and Prize giveaways at Auto Show at 2:00 pm
- Day of show registration only
- Event chairman – J.J. Johnson, 931-397-0678.
- Sponsored by Scott and Mary Alice Edwards and Top of the Hill Properties.
Pumpkin Festival Parade - 3 p.m. – The parade is always a highlight of the day and one of the largest parades of the year for Fentress County. 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, October 3. Call Ashley Bilbrey at 397-0300 to register and for additional information.
Entertainment and On Stage Schedule – Allardt City Hall. William Bilbrey, entertainment chairman.
- 10:00 am – Festival Royalty Introduction
- 12:00 – 1:00 pm – Jake Hoot, Winner Season 17 NBC’s show “The Voice”
- 1:30 – 2:30 pm – Ashley Hepperly
Crafts and Food Vendors - Bruno Gernt Park and directly behind the park at the FCBE Alternative School, all day. The Vendor Park will have additional space between vendors and proposed one-way routing for foot traffic. All vendors set up anywhere in Allardt and who have not paid the fee are asked to purchase a vendor's permit for $25 at Allardt City Hall and keep it at their site during the festival. The permit verifies that vendors have helped support the festival by their contribution toward festival expenses. The vendor park is sponsored by Micro Metals and Top of the Hill Properties. Cathy Jeffers, event chairman.
While it was very difficult to postpone any of the treasured events, some event chairmen and volunteers reviewed the guidelines in respect to their specific events and determined it would be difficult to follow the guidelines for their specific workers and spectators.
The events that will be postponed until next year include: Beauty Pageants, Children's Costume Contest, Pooch Parade, Antique Tractor Show, and Homemade Pumpkin Pie and Pumpkin Roll Contest. The Fireworks display has been eliminated from the line-up due to periodic weather concerns and effects on the livestock in close proximity to the event.
We encourage attendees to follow all safety guidelines for large events, including social distancing, use of hand sanitizers, and wearing masks when appropriate. While many people are encouraged to have a family event to enjoy during these stressful times, others may still be apprehensive to be in large crowds. As always, these events will be documented by WDEB Radio Station and made available for later viewing. So we encourage those who are not completely comfortable with socializing at this time to stay home and stay safe.
~ Free Parking and Free Admission ~
Weigh-off and Festival Event Sponsors and Contributors:
Allardt Land Company, City of Allardt, City of Jamestown, Clarkrange Drug Center, Conditioned Heating & Cooling, Dave Kirk Automotive, Dilip Joshi, M.D., Fentress County Farm Bureau, Fentress County Solid Waste, Fentress County Soil Conservation District, Fentress County Chamber of Commerce, Fentress Courier, First Volunteer Bank, Hall Family Pharmacy, Micro Metals Inc., Moody’s Automotive, O’Reilly Auto Parts, Quality Private Care, R&T Trophies, Representative John Mark Windle, Senator Ken Yager, Top of the Hill Properties, Union Bank, and UT Extension Service, Jimtown Florist, and Quality Family of Companies.
