30th Annual Allardt Great Pumpkin Festival and Weigh-off, Saturday, October 2

30th Annual Allardt Great Pumpkin Festival
and Weigh-off, Saturday, October 2

Schedule of Events

 Pre-Festival Event – 30th Annual Pumpkin Festival Beauty Pageant

    Saturday, September 25, 2021, at York Institute Auditorium (701 N. Main Street, Jamestown TN 38556). The first contest begins at 9 a.m. and the final one at 6 p.m.
    Entry Fee: $30 Beauty / $10 Photogenic. Entry form and fee to be returned to Illusions Hair Salon (207 Fairgrounds Rd ) or mail to: Pumpkin Festival Beauty Pageant, c/o Julia Purcell, P O Box 314, Jamestown TN 38556 by Thursday, September 23, 2021. There will be a $10 late fee for entry taken after Thursday.
    For More Information contact: Julia @ 931-704-1240  or email: j.brannon76@hotmail.com or Stephanie @ 931-267-5627.
    Visit our Facebook page @ Allardt Pumpkin Festival Pageant or follow us on Instagram @ allardt.pumpkin.pageant
    Download the entry form at the Allardt Pumpkin Festival Facebook page or pick up a form at Illusions Hair Salon, 207 Fairgrounds Rd., in Jamestown.  The pageant is sponsored by Clarkrange Drug Center.

Saturday, October 2, 2021

Special Ceremony to Rename the Weigh-off – 9:30 a.m. at the weigh-off site (Sandy’s Diner building) – The Allardt Weigh-off will officially be renamed the "James Asberry Memorial Weigh-Off." George Killgore (University of Tennessee Extension, Fentress County Director, 1976 – 2003) will join Fentress County Executive Jimmy Johnson in the renaming ceremony.

Festival Kick-off Ceremonies –10 a.m. at Allardt City Hall. Chairman Cathy Jeffers will welcome everyone and present the 2021 Great Pumpkin Festival King and Queen and the 2021 Allardt Pumpkin Festival Beauty Pageant winners. Sponsored by Jimtown Florist.

Pumpkin Run - Registration 7 a.m. to 7:45 a.m. at Allardt Elementary 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. T-shirts will be available for all pre-registrants. Some shirts available for day-of registrants. Costume Contest with awards for Best Individual and Best Group Costumes. Sponsored by Hall Family Pharmacy to benefit the Tim Tebow Foundation. Entry forms available at Hall Family Pharmacy. Register the morning of the run or online at https://greatpumpkinfestivalpumpkinrun.itsyourrace.com

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.

Here are the new prizes for the 30th Annual Weigh-off

Pumpkins - First place - $2000 (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. Sponsors include Dr. Dilip Joshi, Fentress County Farm Bureau, Fentress County Soil Conservation District, R&T Trophy, Representative John Mark Windle, Representative Kelly Keisling, Senator Ken Yager, and County Executive Jimmy Johnson.

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 and encouraged to participate in the Parade!
Dash plaques to the first 350 entries.
Gift Cards and Car Wash Bucket giveaways.
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, One Bank, NAPA Auto Parts, and Dave Kirk     Automotive

Motorcycle Show - Registration Saturday from 8 a.m. – noon Central Time at Allardt Land Company. FREE registration. ALL motorcycles welcome and encouraged to participate in the Parade!
 Day of show registration only
Event Chairman – Jeremy Blevins, 931-267-1633.
Sponsored by Scott and Mary Alice Edwards and Top of the Hill Cabins.

Antique Tractor Show - 9 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. Central Time behind Allardt Land Company at the Gernt Lumber Yard. 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.
Event Chairman – Amanda Hicks.
Sponsored by Amanda Hicks, Candidate for 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. 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, Sept. 30. 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 – Presentation of Festival King and Queen and pageant winners.
10:15 – Costume Contest
12:00 – 12:45 – Gary Anderson
1:00 – 1:45 – Jeff Crouch
2:00 – 2:45 – Tim Ledbetter & Charles Beaty
3:00 – 3:30 – Stage break for parade
4:00 – 4:45 –  Southern Comfort
5:00 – 5:45 – Higher Ground

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 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. The vendor park is sponsored by Micro Metals and Top of the Hill Cabins. Cathy Jeffers, event Chairman.

Fireworks have been discontinued to prevent stress on nearby farm animals and the danger of fire.

~ Free Parking and Free Admission ~

 


Weigh-off and Festival Event Sponsors and Contributors:

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, TN Department of Transportation, TN Highway Patrol, Top of the Hill Cabins, Twin Lakes Telephone Coop, Union Bank

 
Free cycle registration thanks 

to Top of the Hill Cabins

 

2021 GPF Clyde and Zelia Stephens Memorial Auto Cruise In

 

2021 GPF Clyde and Zelia Stephens Memorial Auto Cruise In

Registration Saturday from 8 a.m. – noon Central Time at the 4-Way Stop in Allardt. $10 registration fee. ALL cars and trucks welcome!
• Dash plaques to the first 350 entries.
• Gift Cards and Car Wash Bucket giveaways.
• 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, One Bank, NAPA Auto Parts, and Dave Kirk Automotive

 

 
2021 GPF Motorcycle Cruise In
Registration Saturday from 8 a.m. – noon Central Time at Allardt Land Company. FREE registration. ALL motorcycles welcome!
• Day of show registration only
• Event chairman – Jeremy Blevins, 931-267-1633.
• Sponsored by Scott and Mary Alice Edwards and Top of the Hill Properties.

News Release

Allardt Weigh-off will honor
founder Jim Asberry;
First place prize money doubles

The 30th Annual Allardt Great Pumpkin Festival and Weigh-off, Oct. 2, 2021, will officially rename the weigh-off to honor the late James Asberry. Also prize money for first place pumpkins and watermelons will double.

In a special 9:30 a.m. ceremony, the weigh-off will be officially renamed the "James Asberry Memorial Pumpkin Weigh-Off" at the weigh-off site (Sandy’s Diner building) Saturday, Oct. 2.

Businessman and farmer, the late Jim Asberry actually started the fever to grow giant pumpkins in this area when he grew a 716.5 pound pumpkin in 1991, the largest ever recorded in the state of Tennessee at that time.

From that year –when the first weigh-off was held at what was then Asberry's Store – the game was on and growers began their quest to grow ever bigger and heavier giant pumpkins.  The festival committee is thankful for Ms. Nina Asberry and her family for their unsurpassed contribution to this festival, which so many people from across Tennessee and neighboring states love and look forward to every year.

Prize money for the first place pumpkin and watermelon entries will double to $2000 and $1000 respectively for this year’s event.

Here are the new prize schedules:

Pumpkins - First place - $2000 (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

This year, as usual, register your pumpkins, squash, watermelons, and other vegetables from 8 a.m. to 9:45 a.m. at the Sandy’s Diner building (Central time). 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.

Look for updates for the 2021 festival events in this newspaper, plus on the Allardt Pumpkin Festival Facebook page and at www.allardtpumpkinfestival.com. 

Watch the Facebook page for the possibility of early on-line registration for weigh-off entries. A special thank you to UT Extension Agent, John Gunter, and his crew for overseeing the Weigh-Off. Thanks to the Weigh-Off sponsors already on board this year: Dr. Dilip Joshi, Fentress County Farm Bureau, Representative Kelly Keisling, Representavie John Mark Windle, and Union Bank!

New prizes for 2021 Weigh-off – our 30th Anniversary.

 

 

 

Allardt Pumpkin Festival Pageant

 Get info at this link about upcoming festival pageants.

Family of Ronnie Anderson honored at 2020 Festival

Family members of the late Ronnie Anderson, who contributed so much to the the annual Allardt Pumpkin Festival for so many years, were honored at this year's festival kick -off ceremony. Ronnie's widow Rebecca was named Festival Queen, surrounded here by family and friends.

 

 
The Allardt Pumpkin Festival Committee and the City of Allardt today recognize and pay tribute to the late Ronnie Anderson for his contributions to the City of Allardt and to the Allardt Great Pumpkin Festival and Weigh-off. And we welcome his family to the place of honor on our stage.

More than once in past years the Committee asked Ronnie for the privilege of naming him and his wife Rebecca as Festival King and Queen in honor of his tremendous contributions to the festival for so many years. But he always answered, “I’m just too busy that day.”

And that was the truth. Nobody ever worked harder than Ronnie Anderson to make sure everything at the weigh-off and the festival went well.  Through hard work and faithfulness he shared in the success of every event, from getting the Allardt landscape ready for thousands of visitors, to securing garbage cans, to getting the stage at City Hall set up, to helping make sure the giant pumpkins, green squash, and watermelons made their way safely through the weighing process.

Ronnie was alway in the weigh-off pictures, usually with a rope in his hands, straining to help steady an 8 or 900 pounder gently to its resting place on the scales. He served as Site Coordinator for the past few years because of his up close contact with all the entries. He was the one who could spot any flaw that would disqualify an entry from competing.

As the planning for this event got underway in earnest this year amid all the uncertainty and apprehension, all of us thought it and more than one of us voiced it openly, “We sure do miss Ronnie.”

Ronnie was an employee of the City of Allardt since 2005, founder and former pastor of a local church, a fierce prayer warrior, a devoted husband, father, and grandfather. He had the heart of a pastor and could always offer a listening ear and a word of encouragement

With Ronnie’s wife Rebecca today are Ronnie’s children, their spouses, and his grandchildren.

Michael and Laura, Bo and Sallie, Kyla, Jordan,  Jared and Tori, Zack and Keisha, Austin and Nastacia.  Grandchildren – JD, Elisha,Ben, Ian, Lucas, Kenzie, Ryliegh, Neyland, and William

To his family we say thank you for sharing Ronnie with us all those years when he worked long hard hours to make sure the festival and weigh-off actually happened.

And thank you for letting us honor him today by honoring those he treasured most, his family.

 

2020 weigh-off winners

Bruce Terry of Helenwood, TN, broke the Allardt Weigh-off record with this 1731.8 pound pumpkin.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

277.6 pound watermelon grown by Frank Mudd in Flaherty, KY.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

243.6 pound bushel gourd grown by Jeremy Terry of Helenwood, TN. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tennessee state record long gourd – 127 inches, grown by Jeremy Terry of Helenwood, TN