ELK GROVE, Calif. — Elk Grove will host its 30th annual Giant Pumpkin Festival this weekend.
The fun-filled free two-day event offers many different activities for visitors to enjoy and get involved with the community. Some of those activities include; inflatables, carnival rides, vendors, food trucks, contests and a pumpkin regatta race.
Some activities and rides will cost $1 a ticket, or a $15 wristband for unlimited use per day.
Jenna Brinkman, the Consumes Community Services District spokesperson, says the festival is marking its 30th anniversary by featuring a second pumpkin regatta race.
“We take some of the pumpkins from the weigh-off and we carve them into makeshift boats or canoes. These pumpkins weigh anywhere between 500 pounds and even 1,000 pounds,” said Brinkman. “A lot of folks don't know that pumpkins do float. We put them in the water and figure out how they float, then mark the water line and then take them out of the water, carve them just like you would your Halloween jack-o-lantern."
Attendees can enjoy other activities like live music and performances, an art walk, a pumpkin village and a pumpkin patch with a gift shop.
Friends and families can experience fun fall-themed competitions including the best pumpkin cupcakes contest, pumpkin pie eating contest, pumpkin recipe contest, pumpkin regatta contest, scarecrow contest, teen baker contest and a youth art contest.
In some of these contests, participants have to meet an age requirement. Some are 12 and under, others are for ages 13-17.
The festival is known for its giant pumpkin growers from all over California who bring their own produced pumpkins to weigh. Those who place in the top 20 receive cash prizes.
For the race Sunday, contestants can win a cash prize and Saturday’s race will be for fun in honor of the 30th anniversary.
As the festival continues to expand in numbers, event organizers are encouraging guests to leave early, expect delays, carpool with others and bring $20 in cash for parking.
Event organizers are also providing free bike valet for guests.
“The festival has grown. It started in a parking lot basically in a field in Elk Grove Park,” said Brinkman. “And now it consumes basically the entire Elk Grove Park, which is the largest park here in Elk Grove.”
With the festival celebrating its 30th anniversary, event organizers encourage visitors to share their experiences and talk to others about the city of Elk Grove.
The festival offers sponsors and vendors the opportunity to show off their hometown appreciation through its business side.
“We're looking for our smiling faces. We want the most smiles that we can get, that's really the ultimate goal so people love living here,” said Brinkman. “They want to come visit our town, bring friends and family from outside, and show their hometown off, show off what's going on here in Elk Grove.”
The festival is located at Elk Grove Park, at 9950 Elk Grove-Florin Road, Elk Grove, CA 95624. It'll run on Oct. 5 and Oct. 6 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Admission to the festival is free, but parking will be $20.
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