{"id":179648,"date":"2017-05-30T00:19:39","date_gmt":"2017-05-29T14:19:39","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/?p=179648"},"modified":"2020-09-15T12:06:23","modified_gmt":"2020-09-15T02:06:23","slug":"debs-bowled-over-by-festival","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/2017\/05\/30\/debs-bowled-over-by-festival\/","title":{"rendered":"Deb’s Bowled Over By Festival"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"<\/a>
Member for Nanango and Deputy Opposition Leader Deb Frecklington, one of the guest rollers, shows off her lucky pumpkin<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

May 30, 2017<\/strong><\/p>\n

Once a year, Goomeri goes pumpkin crazy: the streets are filled with decorated pumpkins, pumpkin hats, pumpkin costumes, pumpkin sports … but, most importantly, pumpkin rolling.<\/p>\n

The town’s annual Pumpkin Festival stops the traffic – literally – on the Burnett Highway to allow hundreds of pumpkins to roll down Policeman’s Hill and splat into gutters and fences.<\/p>\n

On Sunday, more than 500 pumpkins were rolled down the hill by otherwise sensible adults and children (although some of whom were also wearing pumpkins or were dressed as pumpkins).<\/p>\n

All the pumpkins rollers were hoping their lucky pumpkin would finish up in one piece on the lucky spot, but while several were close, no one took home the $1000 cash.<\/p>\n

However, the pumpkins that travelled the furthest without turning into soup did earn a prize. Two managed this feat, crashing into the bunting at the end of Lions Park but emerging unscathed.<\/p>\n

Earlier in the day, the popular Pumpkin Parade was held with 32 entries entertaining onlookers.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The large crowd, estimated by one official at 14,000, did have more than pumpkins to explore and enjoy.<\/p>\n

A food court with celebrity chefs was operating in Dickinson Park at the end of a long Food Court featuring local food producers.<\/p>\n

Both the Gympie and South Burnett regional councils were also operating stalls to share tourism information about the area to the many visitors at the festival.<\/p>\n

Music was continual on the main stage, which was erected this year near the old Goomeri Railway Station.<\/p>\n

Market stalls also lined the park and highway and extended into the old railway land.<\/p>\n

There were also camels, pig races, an animal nursery, whipcracking, a chainsaw display, the Wondai & District Band, the Maryborough Pipe Band, and much more.<\/p>\n

Related articles<\/strong><\/p>\n