Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

New events unveiled for Second Annual Great Pumpkin Festival

It's the great Pumpkin Festival Prescott.

Actually, it's nearing time for the Second Annual Pumpkin Festival, an event created by CHICS (Citizens Helping Improving Community Standings), in 2002, to help raise money for scholarships and community projects.

The group met Tuesday, Sept. 9, to determine a winner for the T-shirt design contest. Sarah Ramos's design was selected, and will be printed onto shirts for the festival, which is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 25.

The CHICS also discussed events for the festival, including the first Pumpkin Festival Princess Pageant.

Entry into the pageant is $20, with forms available at the Prescott-Nevada County Chamber of Commerce, the Nevada County Picayune, the Whistlin' Gopher and Prescott Flowers. They must be returned to the Whistlin' Gopher at 123 E. Elm by Oct. 10. No entries will be accepted after this date.

The entry fee includes the price of a Pumpkin Festival T-shirt, with participants required to wear the shirts during the pageant. They must also wear khaki shorts, cropped pants or skorts. No hats, sunglasses or alterations to the festival shirts will be allowed.

Those interested in participating should enter early so the T-shirts can be ordered and issued for the festival.

There will be no rehearsals for the pageant, as it is strictly for fun. The queen in each division will receive a crown, banner and trophy. First runners up will receive a trophy and all contestants will be given a certificate of participation.

Members of CHICS would like for the Pumpkin Festival Queens to ride in the Christmas parade this year as well.

The pageant will be held at 3 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 10, in Curley Wolf Alley. Contestants need to arrive by 2:30 p.m. to get their number.

Please do not approach the judges before, during or after the pageant. The event will be judged fairly by out of town judges. If judges wish to speak to contestants or their parents afterwards, let them make the approach. Parents will be given their child's score sheets at the conclusion of the pageant.

The divisions are: Tiny Miss, ages 2-3; Little Miss, ages 4-6; Junior Miss, ages 7-10; and Miss, ages 11-15.

Anyone having questions about the pageant can call 870-887-8214.

But, there is more to the festival than the pageant, as it will be an all-day affair starting at 7 a.m. with a pumpkin pancake breakfast at the Whistlin' Gopher. The breakfast will last until 9 o'clock.

Check in time for carved pumpkins and decorated pumpkins is 9 a.m., with the judging to be done at 10, which is also the time for entering the pumpkin cooking contest at the Gopher.

The cooking contest will be judged at 10:30 a.m., also at the Whistlin' Gopher.

At 11 o'clock, the judging will take place for the Halloween Pet Parade and children's costumes.

A new event for the festival is the "Haul Your Hag Race". This contest will be subdivided into the best dressed hag and spirit stick competition. The race and judging will be done in front of the Post Office.

Winners will be announced for all contests between 3:30-4 p.m., with the booths dismantled and the street cleaned up from 4-5 p.m.

The "Haul Your Hag" race is for two people, male and female. The woman must be dressed in her best witch/hag outfit, but the men don't have to be dressed, making it easier for them to carry their hags.

The "hags" may be carried, pushed, pulled or dragged through the race, and those who don't carry their hag must provide their own hag hauler-wagon, scooter, bike, wheelbarrow, stretcher or whatever. Anything non-motorized will be acceptable.

However, any vehicle used in the race must be decorated in the Halloween theme.

There is a $5 entry fee for the race, with the top three finishers receiving a trophy. The best dressed "hag" will be presented a plaque.

Teams must provide their own cheering section, which will compete for the spirit stick. This stick will be passed from winner to winner each year.

For more information about the race, call Dot Daniel at 870-887-2834.

The pumpkin carving contest is open to all residents of Nevada County. Any size pumpkin is acceptable, but the contestants must furnish their own pumpkin.

There will be three age divisions, 7-11; 12-17; and 18-adult.

Any style carving is allowed as long as it's in good taste.

The carved pumpkin must be delivered to "Pumpkin Alley" (Old Mike Park next to the Whistlin' Gopher) by 9 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 25.

The top three finishers in each division will receive a ribbon and prize.

The same basic rules apply to the pumpkin decorating contest. They may be decorated using fruits, vegetables, paint, pens, markers or other craft items.

For more information about the pumpkin contests call Karen Richards at 887-1539.

There are also decorating contests for businesses and homes.

Those entering the house decorating contest must select either a Halloween or traditional fall theme. The homes must be within the Prescott city limits. Judges will be from out of town, and will make their selections Friday, Oct. 24, with the results announced Saturday, Oct. 25, between 3:30-4 p.m.

First place winners will receive a plaque. Entry forms may be picked up at the Whistlin' Gopher or Prescott Flowers. They must be filled out and returned by Wednesday, Oct. 22.

For businesses, storefronts or windows may be used. Businesses don't have to register for this contest, just decorate. However, pumpkins must be part of the display.

Judging will be done Friday, Oct. 24, with the winners announced Saturday, Oct. 25, at the festival. First place winners in each category will receive a traveling plaque.

For the cooking contest, only amateurs may enter. There are two divisions  sweet and not sweet.

Ingredients must be in standard U.S. measurements and be listed in order of use. The recipes must include at lease 1/4 cup of pumpkin, and show step-dy-step instruction on how it was prepared, along with cooking instructions, including time, temperature and the number of servings.

The recipe should be typed or printed, one page only, and the category stated plainly at the top, next to the recipe's name.

The dish must be able to be prepared and cooked using standard home kitchen utensils and appliances.

Judging will be based on appearance, taste and overall appeal.

Entries must be at the Whistlin' Gopher by 10 a.m., Saturday, Oct. 25, with the entrant's name and recipe name on a 3x5 index card. Entries are to be picked up no later than noon.

The Nevada County Fair Queens will have a booth at the festival as well. The queens have decided to have a platform, which is to help a needy family have a merry Christmas.

Those visiting the Fair Queen booth can get their nails painted, purchase a crown and have their photo taken with their favorite queen.

Pumpkin Festival T-shirts will be $12 up to size XL. Shirts XX will be $13 and XXX will be $14.