11th Giant Pumpkin fest weighs in this weekend

Ken Johnston

It will be a gigantic day of fun in Rainy River this Saturday as the 11th annual Rainy River Valley Giant Pumpkin Festival will be weighing in.
The festival will see one big change this year when it moves to a new venue. For the past decade it was primarily held at the waterfront in Rainy River. This year it will be moved to the Rainy River arena.
Festival organizer Eltjo Wiersema said, “We just did not have the person power to help put up the big tent.” For the past five years they had helped erect and take down the big tent, used for the Rainy River Walleye Tournament, and then were allowed to use it for the festival. With only a few people involved in the pumpkin festival, Wiersema said they decided to move to the arena this year.
Things will get underway with a new addition to the event, a pancake breakfast at the RR Community Centre from 8:30-10:30 a.m. The Recreation Board and Pumpkin Fest. Committee will run it together.
From 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. registration of entries for the weigh-ins will be held in the arena. Wiersema said that he expects there to be several pumpkins tipping the scales at 600 lbs. or more. “I measured mine and it is over 500lbs. and I have heard of a few more over 500.”
The largest pumpkin ever weighed at the RR festival was 765 lbs. two years ago by Kyle Paulson of Pinewood, Minnesota. Wiersema has not heard if Paulson will be here this weekend, but did note that former two time champion Don Cronk of Thunder Bay is planning to make a “Big” appearance on Saturday! Cronk won it for the second time last year with a 579 pound pumpkin.
Wiersema said the growing season here had a slow start with cold weather. However, late in the summer the pumpkins really took off and the heat and rain of late have really helped. He expects his pumpkin to have added another 100lbs. this week alone.
A harvest display and kids games will be held at 10 and 11 a.m. respectively. At noon an annual favourite with people is the Giant Pot Luck lunch.
A special farmers’ market and craft sale will be set up at the arena and it will open at 9 a.m.
At 1 p.m. the weigh offs will begin with prizes for several categories being offered. The heaviest pumpkin will earn its grower $1,000 and the prestigious Golden Hoe. 2nd biggest gets $500 and 3rd $100.
Heaviest pumpkin from a junior grower (elementary school kids) gets $50, 2nd $25 and 3rd $10.
$100 will be awarded for hidden weight.
The largest pumpkin grown by a first time grower gets the Rookie of the Year Award which is The Silver Watering Can.
Other awards will be presented for the tallest sunflower, ugliest pumpkin, most attractive pumpkin, best decorated pumpkins, oddest overall vegetable, distance award, best pumpkin pie/dessert, guess the weight and pumpkin seed spitting contest.
Prizes will be presented at 2:30 p.m.
That evening another new addition to the festival will start at 8 p.m. when a Country Pumpkin Dance for all family members will be held. Music will be by Bob Johnson, Jerry Fisk and Judy VanDerzeeuw. Wiersema said all family members are welcome and kids 12 and under get in free!