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 - $1500 (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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