The six annual Pumpkinfest was held in Damariscotta, Maine, on Columbus Day weekend. It is an event that all in the community take part in. While the large pumpkins are the main attraction, there are many events to enjoy. And everyone from small children to elderly people can participate. As always, it was a huge success!
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There is no real beginning of a Pumpkinfest year, and no real end to it either. Each Pumpkinfest begins with the pumpkins of the previous year… when the seeds for the following year’s giant pumpkins are harvested and saved. They are removed from the pumpkins after the official weigh off by the Great Pumpkin Commonwealth. They are then dried and stored until the following spring.
In May, the seeds from previous pumpkins are started at Pinkham’s Plantation- home of Pumpkinfest. 700 pumpkin plantlets are given away near the end of the month. This year it was May 20. People can then register their plant for the fall’s event. The goal is to grow over 500 pumpkins, at over 100 lbs each! These pumpkins are used for the regatta boats and for decorating main street, Damariscotta. That is a lot of pumpkins!
Two girls ready to grow large pumpkins!
Photo courtesy of Phyllis Guss.
A serious moment!
Photo courtesy of Phyllis Guss
Out and about all summer long one sees signs of pumpkin patches.
A well trellised pumpkin vine
is a thing of beauty!
This year was a challenge for the growers…
the rain was unpredictable,
and there were some very hot spells in June and July.
The weather pattern was not a normal one!
But from this:
can come one of these:
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THE WEIGH OFF
Finding out which is the largest pumpkin that is entered in event is the first order of business, and the first event of Pumpkinfest. The weigh off is conducted by and sanctioned by, the Great Pumpkin Commonwealth. This is an organization dedicated to the growth of large pumpkins. And for this event, bigger is definitely better! It takes skill, time, and a lot of work to get one of these big boys!
The pumpkins are cut from their vines the evening prior to the weigh off, so not to lose water weight. But, while that seems like a small thing, it is not! Just getting these pumpkins out of a patch and to the weigh off is a project!
Moving a large pumpkin
Photo courtesy of Phyllis Guss.
This year the winning pumpkin was grown by Charlie Lopresti- and it was a whopping 1332.0 LB.- which is 604.19 Kg. It was a clear winner, weighing over 100 lbs over the runner up.
The next call to action is to gather seeds from the pumpkins. This entails cutting a plug, removing the seeds, and replugging the pumpkin for other events. The seeds are washed, dried, and when truely ready, stored for next year.
Pumpkin showing the plug that was cut to remove its seeds.
It was then replugged, and deployed on Main Street
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THE PUMPKIN DEPLOYMENT
The next action is for the 50 or so large pumpkins that are used for main street Damariscotta to be “deployed”. I was going to go, but just as I started out, a monsoon of water descended. It POURED! This takes place around 4:30, and large machines are used to maneuver the pumpkins onto pallets that have been placed on the sidewalks, mostly in front of the businesses that donate money for the support of Pumpkinfest. This is not easy! And some of the people request which direction they want the pumpkin to face, which calls for some finesse!
Placing a large pumpkin in front of
King Eider’s Pub
Photo courtesy of Phyllis Guss.
Photo courtesy of Phyllis Guss.
SUCCESS!
Photo courtesy of Phyllis Guss.
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FRIDAY
Friday is a key day in the Pumpkinfest schedule. Pumpkins are decorated, derby pumpkins started, and the sound of saws is loud at Pinkham’s Plantation where boats for the regatta are being started. And at home pumpkin desserts are being prepared for events on Saturday and Sunday. Old and young alike can all participate in this!
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Friday was supposed to be a beautiful day. But, at 8:30 am it was cold, damp, and misty…
A cold misty morning,
looking down the Damariscotta River,
the tide running out.
On the main street of Damariscotta- everywhere one looked there were large rounded pumpkins!
A pumpkin is tagged with weight, and who grew it, and this one has a further message:
“This side toward the street.”
Despite the chilly early morning, the pumpkin in front of the pub was being carefully dried, in preparation for the work to be done on it. And some had even had work started!
The pumpkin on the left has a coating of brown paint,
and decorations of leaves.
Soon artists were hard at work.
Photo courtesy of Phyllis Guss.
Photo courtesy of Phyllis Guss.
Photo courtesy of Phyllis Guss.
While some people worked on the big pumpkins around the area,
others were working on smaller ones!
Photo courtesy of Phyllis Guss.
Intense concentration is needed for getting the axles aligned correctly
on the pumpkins being entered in the derby!
Photo courtesy of Phyllis Guss.
After the axles are in place it is time to decorate the derby contestants!
Photo courtesy of Phyllis Guss.
Photo courtesy of Phyllis Guss.
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SATURDAY
Saturday dawned clear, with little wind… it looked like a great day for all events. And there were many! While the pumpkin decorating continued on Main Street, and boat building continued at Pinkham’s, there were also other events. These included a pie shooting contest, pie eating contest, a dessert contest, underwater pumpkin carving, and the parade!
There were also things happening at the Damariscotta Mills Fish Ladder Restoration Project.
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THE PUMPKIN CHUNKING
I decided to go to the pumpkin shooting, or chunking, as I had never been.
This takes place at one end of Great Salt Bay,
past Damariscotta Mills.
Looking out over Great Salt Bay
one sees a faint mist.
Basically the event is a distance event- with pumpkins being shot out of air cannons. While there are normally two teams of shooters, this year there was only one. I was told that it was due to reasons having to do with insurance.
The team that was there was the Big Ten Team, from Pennsylvania. They were the world champion pumpkin chunkers in 1999, 2007, and 2009. Their gun has an 87 foot long barrel, with a 10 inch bore. It is impressive!
THE BIG 10 PUNKIN CHUNKER
The point of pumpkin chunking is to see how far a pumpkin will go when shot out of the air cannon. The air cannon uses pressure to fire the pumpkin. The pumpkins are tracked by a boat that is in the bay, using GPS. The normal distance one thinks a pumpkin would go would be a couple off foot ball fields. But, the pumpkins normally go a whopping 3,500 feet to 4,000 feet! The Big 10 Team’s record is over a mile- 5280 feet!
Not knowing what to expect I got there early and watched the set up. There was a lot of toing and froing… A man was working on what looked like oval pumpkins, but they turned out to be a melon of some sort. From the talk I gather there are a variety of different things that one looks for when choosing the pumpkins to be chunked. The reason melons were used at Pumpkinfest was the world championship chunker contest was coming up in November, and the best pumpkins were being saved for that.
A man saws off the stems of the melons
At this point, there was a lot more toing and froing…
people milled around, and the zodiak that would do the GPS tracking went out into the bay.
THE ZODIAK HEADS OUT INTO THE BAY
The large air compressor, supplied by Reilly Well Drilling, started up.
So, we knew there would be action soon!
The large air compressor
About this time the wind picked up, and cold moist, misty air started blowing in off of the water.
It was getting cold.
But, as the air compression built, gauges were checked.
Adjustments are made.
Finally, pumpkins started to be measured and weighed,
and those numbers recorded.
Obviously we were getting close to the first trial!
The team does two trial shots, to make any adjustments needed for the trajectory. Steam builds, a whistle blows twice, and then there is a loud boom.
Now here is the thing… the pumpkin leaves the cannon barrel at just under the speed of sound. The speed of sound depends on many factors- air temperature, moisture, and pressure. But, in dry air at 20 °C (68 °F), the speed of sound is 343.2 meters per second (1,126 ft/s). This is 1,236 kilometers per hour (768 mph), or about one kilometer in three seconds or approximately one mile in five seconds. Even though it was colder than that and the air was moist, no matter how one cuts it, that is fast.
Given the speed that the pumpkin, or in this case, melon is traveling, it generate heat as it moves through the cannon barrel. The now heated exterior of the object hits the cold air, which condenses into a cloud of steam.
Given the speed and steam… it is rare to actually see the pumpkin, or melon, leave the cannon. Combine that with the fact that it is going to travel at least 3500 feet, and was a green object landing in a dark colored body of water that had waves moving across it from the wind- one could not see it land either! Even if it were an orange pumpkin, something about 15″ across, moving at that speed, and landing 1/2- 3/4 of mile away- which would take about 3 seconds- well I have my doubts that a 15″ orange pumpkin could be spotted in the water- even if one knew exactly where to look!
The steam from the Big 10 Cannon as the first melon is shot.
I have to admit, I was disappointed. It seems the event is more exciting for those involved with the procedure than for the spectators. Basically one waits around a long time for pressure to build to launch an object that one can not see, a boat swoops in, gets the GPS coordinates, they are recorded, and then the whole thing is done again.
I decided to leave…on the way down to Damariscotta Mills, I passed, on the left, by the bay, a small parking lot. One could see the zodiac out in front. Perhaps, if one stood there, one might be able to see the splash down… Not wishing to wait the half hour it takes to rebuild the air pressure, I moved on.
But, perhaps next year!
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THE PIE EATING CONTEST
I did not make it to the pie eating contest,
due to going to the Chunkin.
But, I am sure fun was had by all who went,
whether contestants or as watchers!
PIE CONTESTS ARE DIRTY WORK!
Photo courtesy of Phyllis Guss
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THE PARADE
The line to get into town being long, I opted to just watch the parade.
Parades in small towns are fun.
Anyone who wishes to be in them can be.
This makes for a lot of variety!
THE QUEEN OF THE PARADE
leads the way!
HAPPINESS IS RIDING IN THE PARADE!
PUMPKIN CLOWNS!
A LOT OF DIFFERENT FARMS GREW PUMPKINS
for this!
THE FOUR-H CLUB CAME
NOTE THE MARKINGS ARE OUTLINED IN ORANGE!
THE SHEEP WAS NOT HAPPY,
he had to be chivvied along.
BUZZ PINKHAM GIVES A WAVE!
THE COAST GUARD CAME-
they are here for the Pumpkin Regatta
THE LADIES THAT PUT ON
the Legion Auxiliary breakfast were there-
cook stove and all!
THE RUNNERS UP!
CHARLIE LOPRESTI and DAUGHTER
– with their winning 1332.0 LB. ( 604.19 Kg.) pumpkin!
KIDS HAD FUN!
THE CARS FOR THE PUMPKIN DROP
As the last of the parade head down the road, I got in my car to go home. Though there were other events taking place, it seemed like a fitting end to the day.
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ONE MORE EVENT
There were many events that take place over the weekend. But one rather boggles the mind. This is the underwater pumpkin carving contest. Yes, you got it.
This takes place, depending on the tide, and is done- underwater! To be entered one needs to be a certified diver. But, all one really ever sees is the occasional fin!
DIVER WORKING ON A PUMPKIN
Photo courtesy of Phyllis Guss.
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SUNDAY
On Sunday the fun continues.
The 2nd annual Pumpkin Derby
was a huge success!
Photo courtesy of Phyllis Guss
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Up on the hill above Great Salt Bay
the Big 10 used a car for
target practice.
Ten pound pumpkins can cause a LOT of damage!
Photo courtesy of Phyllis Guss
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For many the main Sunday event is the Pumpkin Regatta. This event totally depends on the tide. And high tide was mid-afternoon. There are two events- one for paddle pumpkins, and one for motor pumpkins.
And they are off!
Photo courtesy of Phyllis Guss
One sees boats of all kinds!
Photo courtesy of Phyllis Guss
The contestants for the motor pumpkin regatta
take things very seriously!
Photo courtesy of Phyllis Guss
Photo courtesy of Phyllis Guss
Rounding a bouy-
taking on water!
Photo courtesy of Phyllis Guss
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For many the highlight of Pumpkinfest is the display of pumpkins around the area. People who donate to Pumpkinfest get a large pumpkin. But, others grow and decorate their own. So, there are a lot of pumpkins around!
Every year is different. Last year there were more carved pumpkins. This year, more painted ones. No matter what, they add a lot of color to the Damariscotta area!
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PUMPKINS IN TOWN
While some of the pumpkins seem rather randomly done,
others are not!
One bank did a candied apple!
The Animal Shelter did a carved and painted pumpkin.
What the artist did not realize
until after the pumpkin was done,
was there was a monarch butterfly chrysalis
attached to the pumpkin’s stem!
You can just see it in the picture above,
it is the green oval near the base of the stem.
There were some monsters!
Last year’s pink kitty
became this years bat!
This pumpkin was decorated as an acorn…
using hundreds of acorn caps!
This pumpkin started off as an interesting character…
But ended up being a not so nice
vampire bunny!
Damariscotta pottery painted one pumpkin
to look like one of their
pottery lamps!
The most interesting pumpkin in town!
A totally carved out pumpkin-
in the shape of an octopus!
Yes, we do love pumpkins!
And Pumpkinfest!
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PUMPKINS OUTSIDE OF TOWN
A beautifully painted pumpkin!
The vet did a fire eating dragon-
with corn for it’s spines!
A peacock stood under a tree.
Some just paint their logo on their pumpkin.
The small mall created a cheerful bunch of flowers
in a pale green container.
The supermarket had a strange beast
with an owl sitting on it!
A cheerful pumpkin creature
greeted one at the hardware store!
Two pumpkin people enjoy a hot tub!
Round Top Ice Cream
turned their pumpkins
into an ice cream sunday!
The mail it for you store
had a mailbox, complete with letters.
The town of Newcastle’s dragon.
There were many wonderfully decorated pumpkins at Pumpkinfest this year.
There always are.
But, the one that stole everyone’s heart
was the one in front of the Newcastle Publick House.
(No, that is not a typo!)
This has to be one of the most imaginative uses for rakes, ever!
The Newcastle, Maine
Publick House puffer fish!
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A NOTE OF THANKS
Pumpkinfest is a labor of love for many people. People donate so much of their time and energy to it, and all because they love both large pumpkins and their community. A special thanks goes out to them.
In particular I would like to thank:
Kathy Anderson, a driving force behind Pumpkinfest. She is always a wonderful help, and put me in touch with Phyllis Guss, and kindly allowed me to use anything from the Damariscotta Pumpkinfest site.
Phyllis Guss went to many more events than I could, and she very kindly took the time to send me pictures for this blog, and has allowed me to use others from Damariscotta Pumpkinfest Face Book page as well.
My thanks to you both.
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For more information about
Pumpkinfest
please see the blog:
www.Damariscottapumpkinfest.com
For more information about
the Great Pumpkin Commonwealth
please see:
www.greatpumpkincommonwealth.com
