COOPERSTOWN —
I have been covering PumpkinFest for five years. It is one of the more unique events I get to cover each year. Typically, I am asking paddlers what it is like to race giant pumpkins in Otsego Lake.
Not this year. I jumped into a carved out pumpkin and tired it firsthand this year. I was in the heaviest pumpkin, so the challenge was on!
First was the sponsor race. Then growers and community members were able to compete. I waited until the last heat, wanting to make sure everyone who wanted to try it got their chance.
I even waited last to choose my pumpkin. It was just floating in the water calling out my name. Everyone had picked smaller easier-to-manage pumpkins. It had yet to place in the top three and those who paddled it complained about getting it to go.
It is hard to really say where I ended up because most people turned around before reaching the half-way point marked by milk jugs. A younger kid was clearly whipping my butt in a smaller pumpkin. I think he and I were the only ones who did not turn back, so I guess that places me second by default.
It was not about winning for me though. It was about having seen so many people try it and wanting to give it a try. I had seen people flip several times — usually being launched — but there were a couple rollovers earlier in the day. Maybe this is where it was smart to be in the heavier pumpkin.
Paddlers are right when they say it is not every day one gets to hop inside a pumpkin and race it in a lake. It is definitely a unique experience.
Did my arms hurt some afterwards? Yes. Did I get pumpkin guts all over my clothing? Yes. Did I get a little wet? Yes — but mostly because I was in the last heat and offered to paddle it back to shore and had to hop out in shallow water. Did I get slime in between my toes? Yes.
But it was all worth it.
If you have never gone to PumpkinFest, it is definitely a must see. These are not your typical garden-sized pumpkins at all. For example, this year’s winner tipped the scales at 1,509.5 pounds.
The regatta can be somewhat hard to see, but thanks to organizers, it was broadcast live this year. Next year, the hope is to have big screens so even more people can enjoy the festivities.
Hope to see you there next year!
This editorial was written by Crier reporter Michelle Miller.
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Coinciding with our websites redesign, we launched our new story comments feature through Disqus.
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September 27, 2012
Nothing like firsthand experience
- Our Opinion
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- Congratulations Cooperstown softball It is hard to believe that Cooperstown's softball team had never won a division or playoff title until this week.
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- Change is never taken lightly We are glad the Cooperstown Central School Board finally chose a nickname, but were surprised by the plummeting attendance rate at meetings pertaining to the matter. What seemed to be a hot-button issue attracting nearly 100 people for and against a name change at initial meetings seemed to simmer to complete no shows toward the end.
- Tax cap is deceiving As if figuring out one's tax bill isn't mind boggling enough. In its second year of implantation, the 2 percent limit on property tax increases makes things all that more complicated. One cannot just assume his or her individual taxes will not increase more than the cap threshold.
- Earth Festival is a good start to spring We hope Mother Nature brings us some sunshine and spring weather this weekend. But if not, there is a predominantly inside event coming up that should help get visitors thinking about spring.
- Education heading in wrong direction It is good to see that with teachers changing their curriculums to teach for the Common Core State Standards that there is still some hands-on learning going on locally.
- Good luck, Tommy Perhaps the third time will be the "charm" for Cooperstown Central School seventh-grader Tommy Knight.
- Eliminate the gap elimination adjustment Despite Gov. Andrew Cuomo's promise in his budget address to increase funding for education, local school officials are saying they are not receiving enough state aid to fund even basic services.
- Groff is off to good start Former Cooperstown Central School student and athlete Sarah Groff visited Cooperstown in November to share her dream of making it to the Olympics. She had just missed the podium at the London Games.
- Blindsided by CV-S vote As we all know, school districts are facing financial insolvency and are being forced to reconsider the ways they do business. That includes mergers when fielding athletic teams.
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