News and Upcoming Pumpkinfest Events
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- Site Record Set at Port Elgin Pumpkinfest Bruce Power Weigh Off!
October 4, 2020 | 0 commentsFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Site Record Set at Port Elgin Pumpkinfest Bruce Power Weigh Off
Port Elgin, ON: The results are confirmed and the winners of the biggest pumpkin are: Phil & Jane Hunt and Chris Lyons. Each champion growers themselves, Chris, Phil and Jane joined forces to try to break the 2,000 lb mark in Canada. Although their pumpkin didn’t quite make the goal it broke a site record for Port Elgin Pumpkinfest at 1,939.5 lbs! 41 growers arrived on a damp day to have their giant veggies inspected and measured. Over $12,500 in prizes were awarded including $3,000 for the largest pumpkin.
“After an unusual year we had a different kind of weigh off,” says co-winner Chris Lyons,” but we really appreciate that Pumpkinfest went forward with the weigh off portion of their festival, and hope the street festival and public can return next year.”
“We want to thank all volunteers for putting together a great show for us during this pandemic. We watched the entire show on our iPad & were impressed by the whole thing. A huge thanks to Pumpkinfest from all of us growers,” say Jane & Phil Hunt
Congrats to John Mataea from Breslaw with his 2nd place 1,897 lb pumpkin, weighing in with his personal best.
Todd Kline from Shawville Quebec brought the largest Squash, weighing in at 1,288 lbs.
Another site record for the largest Bushel Gourd was set by Joseph Giffen at 249.5 pounds!
Heaviest watermelon was brought in by Mark Pollock of Kincardine at 124.5 lbs
The Fred Wuerth Tri County prize was awarded to Bob & Elaine MacKenzie of Tiverton who entered a 1,812.5 lb pumpkin – their personal best! They also won biggest Cabbage with a 46.5 lb giant. This prize is named in honour of Mayor Fred Wuerth, who, with Doug Court started Pumpkinfest in 1986. Fred was the first winner with a 200+lb pumpkin. Doug Court is still involved with the festival and he and his family entered a number of specimens with him taking home 2nd place for his 112.5 lb field pumpkin and 2nd place for a 6.68 lb tomato. 3rd place with a 199 lb bushel gourd 3rd place with a 73.12 lb marrow.
For the full results visit www.pumpkinfest.org.
President Dave Mensher states “We would like to send thanks to the Board for all the work they did leading up to and during this event. to the volunteers who are there for us – rain or shine – pandemic or not… to the Growers for continuing to support Port Elgin Pumpkinfest to the Town council and staff for all their help and consideration. And to our fans who watched and enjoyed. To Dave Middleton and Robin Woods for hosting the event so smoothly. Thanks to CTRE for pulling it all together into a professional production.”
“The health and safety of our volunteers and growers was paramount in our planning, and it was wonderful to see everyone following distancing rules and protocols,” says Coordinator Joanne Robbins, “the growers waited calmly and patiently in their vehicles until it was their turn to unload. The internet provided by Bruce Telecom allowed them to watch the show on their devices while in the line-up, but for anyone that missed the show you can watch the virtual production on youtube. The positive response has been overwhelming.”
To see the event please visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UyMYVy5j12w
REAL FUN. VIRTUALLY DELIVERED. PUMPKINFEST 2020
Read More >> - Port Elgin Pumpkinfest’s Cinderella’s Carriage Rolling Car Show switched to Virtual Show due to Covid-19
September 24, 2020 | 2 commentsPort Elgin, ON: The Pumpkinfest Board of Directors has made the decision to revert to our original plan for the car show for 2020. Cars will be showcased online and during the live stream on October 3.
“Regardless of the careful thought and preparation that has gone into the OLG Cinderella’s Carriage Rolling Car Show to keep both the participants and local community safe, we must put the health and safety of our community first”, says Sharon Shular, Car Show Chair. She continues, "COVID-19 requires the people of our world to be careful and respectful of each other. On Saturday, September 19, a large group of individuals gathered in Ancaster, Ontario for a car event. This has prompted swift and concise action from the Provincial Government and local health authorities. We havee also been watching the numbers of COVID-19 cases in our province rise to alarming numbers in the last few weeks and have made this decision on the advice of Public Health Grey-Bruce and the Saugeen Shores Police Services."
A selection of the hundreds of car show pre-registrants who submitted a photo of their car will be showcased during the live streaming of the Bruce Power International Weigh Off event on Saturday, October 3. You can still add your car to the live stream by submitting your photo at www.pumpkinfest.org/carshow/carshow.
We would like to thank Public Health and Saugeen Shores for working with us to ensure the Weigh Off will continue, and is a safe event. We have strict protocols and controls in place with no public attendance allowed. The public must watch from their homes. Growers arrive in a highly monitored, restricted area, stay in their vehicles until directed to unload and weigh their vegetables one grower at a time and then disperse from the area immediately. We are highly confident in the measures that have been taken to ensure the safety of all
Be sure to watch Pumpkinfest on Saturday, October 3 starting at 9am to enjoy the whole Pumpkinfest experience from the comfort of your own home at www.pumpkinfest.org.
Stay Home and Stay Healthy.
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Read More >> - PORT ELGIN PUMPKINFEST RELEASES 2020 WEIGH-OFF PRIZE STRUCTURE
August 14, 2020 | 0 commentsSaugeen Shores, ON
For the 34th year running, the Port Elgin Pumpkinfest Bruce Power International Weigh-off will continue uninterrupted by the ongoing pandemic.
“While this year has brought some challenges, our committees have put a solid plan in place to continue our much-loved event while maintaining the safety of our staff, volunteers and growers”, noted Pumpkinfest President Dave Mensher. Social distancing will be maintained with mandatory mask use and a directional traffic plan for the weigh-off.
“With the exceptional weather we’ve had, and the limited number of events this year, this may be the year that we see some long-standing records shattered”, said grower committee chair, Doug Court.
“Our growers have been loyal to Pumpkinfest year after year and recognize us as one of the premier events in Ontario, Canada and World-Wide, so we wanted to ensure that we could provide a safe venue for our growers to showcase their prize-winning entries in 2020 when many other events have been cancelled.”
New this year, the weigh-off and other events will be broadcast live on Saturday, October 3rd at pumpkinfest.org for viewers to experience Pumpkinfest from the safety of their homes. There will be no public attendance or street festival.
“I’ve been really impressed by the creativity our committees have demonstrated this year to enhance Pumpkinfest ” said Dave Mensher. “Our Cinderella’s Carriage Car Show will be rolling through Grey-Bruce on Sunday, October 4th to bring the event to our audience while maintaining safety.”
Port Elgin Pumpkinfest is an award-winning community festival, contributing to Saugeen Shores year after year as it attracts residents as well as visitors from far beyond the community.
For more information please visit pumpkinfest.org.
The Prize Structure can be found at https://www.pumpkinfest.org/giant-vegetables/prize-list/
REAL FUN. VIRTUALLY DELIVERED. PUMPKINFEST 2020.
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