{"id":209891,"date":"2018-05-30T22:10:17","date_gmt":"2018-05-30T12:10:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/?p=209891"},"modified":"2021-05-31T20:53:07","modified_gmt":"2021-05-31T10:53:07","slug":"pumpkin-funs-getting-even-bigger","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/2018\/05\/30\/pumpkin-funs-getting-even-bigger\/","title":{"rendered":"Pumpkin Fun’s Getting Even Bigger"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Tony Frohloff, from Minden, won the Largest Pumpkin competition with this 160kg beauty<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

May 30, 2018<\/strong><\/p>\n

With an estimated 17,000 people at your festival, it’s no wonder things can get a little bit squashed …<\/p>\n

Bad puns aside, the annual Goomeri Pumpkin Festival was bigger and better than ever at the weekend with an extended program of events on Saturday leading up to the main day on Sunday.<\/p>\n

Saturday’s schedule included live music at the Hall of Memory, wine tastings, a cutting competition, live music in Dickinson Park during the afternoon and Twilight Markets in the evening.<\/p>\n

But that was just the beginning of the festival activities.<\/p>\n

Sunday’s program was packed with all the usual fun of the fair including pig races,\u00a0camel rides, whip cracking, post-ripping, chainsaw demonstrations, vintage cars, historic machinery, an animal nursery, a reptile show, market stalls, live music on stage and roving entertainers.<\/p>\n

Then there were all the pumpkin-themed events:\u00a0Celebrity chef demonstrations (by Kingaroy’s own Jason Ford), Pumpkin Bowls, Giant Pumpkins, Decorated Pumpkins, Pumpkin Shot Put, a Pumpkin Pageant and, of course, a Pumpkin Street Parade.<\/p>\n

New events this year included a Dash For Cash (for the very fit, up Policeman’s Hill!)<\/p>\n

However, the highlight of the Goomeri Pumpkin Festival is always the trademarked “Great Australian Pumpkin Roll” during which hundreds of pumpkins meet their maker on Sunday afternoon as they roll down Policeman’s Hill.<\/p>\n

No one claimed the $1000 Lucky Spot prize this year, although at one stage it looked under threat when a wayward pumpkin advanced a brother gourd closer to the circle … to the gasps of the crowd.<\/p>\n

* * *\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Competition Results<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n

Great Australian Pumpkin Roll<\/strong><\/p>\n

Junior<\/strong>
\n1. Kayla Battershell, Glasshouse Mountains
\n2.\u00a0Will Tate, Obi Obi<\/p>\n

Adults<\/strong>
\n1. Matthew James, Annerley
\n2. Michelle Raymond, Coolum<\/p>\n

Pumpkin Patch Snatch<\/strong><\/p>\n

Junior<\/strong>
\n1. Adara Felsman, Sunshine Coast
\n2. Matthew Howie, Chermside<\/p>\n

Open<\/strong>
\n1. Fynn Johnson, Birkdale
\n2. Blake Johnson, Birkdale<\/p>\n

Pumpkin Bowls<\/strong><\/p>\n