29th Annual Allardt Great Pumpkin Festival
and Weigh-off Events, Saturday, October 3
Allardt's 29th Annual Great Pumpkin Festival and Weigh-off is set for Saturday, October 3. (One day only.) Food and crafts vendors will be set up in Bruno Gernt Park and in front of the FCBE Alternative School all day. (Allardt is in the Central Time Zone.)
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. Vendor Park booths will spaced out to provide for social distancing. Hand sanitizer will be abundantly available at multiple locations. Face masks are recommended as appropriate. Some events have been cut from the schedule.
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/even….
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
or the Allardt Pumpkin Festival Facebook page. 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, Quality Family of Companies, Fentress County
Farm Bureau, Representative John Mark Windle, and Senator Ken Yager.
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 1. 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.
Not happening this year, but we hope to add back these events for next year’s 2021 Allardt Great Pumpkin Festival and Weigh-off: Pumpkin Festival Beauty Pageant, Children’s Costume Contest, Tractor Show, Pumpkin Pie and Pumpkin Roll Contest, Pooch Parade. Fireworks are canceled indefinitely.
~ Free Parking and Free Admission ~
Weigh-off and Festival Event Sponsors and Contributors:
Allardt Real Estate Association, LLC, City of Allardt, City of
Jamestown, Clarkrange Drug Center, Dave Kirk Automotive, Dilip Joshi,
M.D., Fentress County Ambulance Service, Fentress County Chamber of
Commerce, Fentress County EMA, Fentress County Farm Bureau, Fentress
County Farmers Coop, Fentress County Soil Conservation District,
Fentress Courier, Fentress County Sheriff’s Department, First Volunteer
Bank, Hall Family Pharmacy, Jimtown Florist, Micro Metals Inc., Moody’s
Automotive, O’Reilly Auto Parts, One Bank, Quality Family of Companies,
Representative John Mark Windle, Senator Ken Yager, TDOT, Top of the
Hill Properties, Twin Lakes Telephone Coop, Union Bank, and UT
Extension Service.
