This weekend is the last weekend to enjoy festivities of the Fall Festival at the Great Pumpkin Farm in Clarence. Admission is FREE on this final weekend October 31 and November 1. You can purchase tickets on the grounds for the attractions including the Cornmaze, Mining, Hayrides and more.
Ten teams from area high schools competed, with the following results:
Longest Single Throw:
Combined Throws (Total):
There was a five-way tie between Forestville; Fredonia; Hamburg; Harkness East and Williamsville South for the Storming The Castle honors.
Depew, Williamsville South and Forestville shared the “Team Spirit” Award.
Area high school technology teams have been working for weeks to design and build trebuchets (pronounced treb-yeh-SHETs) to compete in this weekend’s 14th annual Pumpkin Catapult Contest, as part of The Great Pumpkin Farm’s Fall Festival. Twelve teams from area schools are scheduled to compete for distance and accuracy and with enough precision to win cash prizes and trophies for their schools and prestige for their teams.
The competition starts at 10:00 a.m. on Sunday, October 20, with winners being announced at approximately 3:00 p.m.*
Here is a list of competing schools:
*NOTE: Media can call Nancy Cardillo at 716.472.6728 after 1:30 p.m. Sunday to get a better idea of the time the winners will be announced.
A trebuchet is a slingshot-like weapon used in medieval siege warfare that relies only on counterweight – no springs, motors, or agents like gun powder – to hurl large stones or other missiles. In this competition, pumpkins are the “missiles.”
Teams are required to design, build and test their trebuchet using knowledge learned in math, science and technology courses. Trebuchets must be constructed only of wood and the hardware necessary for assembly; no other materials can be used, except for reinforcement of gussets and load-bearing areas, and trebuchets must meet requirements set forth by the rules of the contest.
Cash prizes are awarded for the longest distance shot, highest total combined shots and for “storming the castle”(hitting a target 150 feet away). All teams receive a plaque for participating.
Students from Depew High School took two of the top three honors last year (for the second consecutive year): Longest Single Throw (687 feet) and Combined Throws (total of 2,004 feet). Pioneer Central took the Storming the Castle trophy.
There’s an extra day this weekend to enjoy all the fun, as the Great Pumpkin Farm’s Fall Festival’s fifth weekend extends into Monday, October 14 (Columbus Day).
The big event is the Annual Pumpkin Drop, which takes place on Monday, October 14 at 12:00 p.m. in conjunction with 97 Rock. Ninety-seven lucky pre-selected
97 Rock listeners will get to compete for prizes once the 1,000 pumpkin is dropped from a
100-foot-high crane, spilling guts, seeds and numbered discs that correspond to prizes. It’s something to see, for sure! Visit http://www.97rock.com/2019/09/25/pumpkin/ for more information, complete rules and to sign up.
Monday, October 14 is also Wristband Day. Guests can purchase a wristband for $18 and enjoy unlimited amusement rides from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. (This is in addition to the admission fee.)
The 24th annual World Pumpkin Weigh-off took place today at the Great Pumpkin Farm in Clarence and, once again, the results were over the top!
There were 11 entries this year.
Here are the winners:
One of the Great Pumpkin Farm’s most popular events, the annual World Pumpkin Weigh-off, takes place this weekend as part of the Farm’s 24th annual Fall Festival.
Judging for The World Pumpkin Weigh-off begins at 12:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 5; winners will be announced and prizes awarded as soon as all the entries have been officially weighed. The owner of the heaviest pumpkin at the World Pumpkin Weigh-off will take home the top prize of $5,000, (with the chance to win twice that amount and earn a world record if their pumpkin weighs over 2,000 pounds!). Cash prizes will also be awarded for second through sixth places.
Last year’s winner was Karl Haist of Clarence Center, NY, whose pumpkin weighed in at 2,027 pounds – setting a New York State record and becoming the first 2,000 pound pumpkin in state history! The Great Pumpkin Farm also saw the first 1000 lb. pumpkin during its 1996 Fall Festival – 1,061 pounds – and it went right into the Guinness Book of World records!
Visit www.greatpumpkinfarm.com/event/world-pumpkin-weigh-off/ for more information on the Annual World Pumpkin Weigh-off.
It’s also Superheroes Weekend at the Fall Festival this Saturday and Sunday, in conjunction with WNY Superheroes and Cosplayers. In addition to taking your chances in the superhero-themed corn maze, you can meet, greet and have your photo taken with your favorite superhero from noon to 4:00 p.m. both days – FREE with your paid admission. Superheroes scheduled to appear include Catwoman; Superman; Belle; Rapunzel; the Penguin and Buffalo’s Wolverine. Plus there might be a few surprise superheroes…you never know!
The 10th annual Hands-free World Pumpkin Pie Eating Contest was held this afternoon at the Great Pumpkin Farm in Clarence. A NEW RECORD was set by professional eater, Molly Schuyler, who consumed 50 pieces of pie in just 10 minutes, beating the old record of 48 pieces set in 2017, also by Molly Schuyler. For her efforts, she took home the first place prize of $1,000 PLUS a $500 bonus for setting a new record.
There were nine competitors in this year’s competition, including four from Western New York. The second place winner, Joel Hanson from Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, ate 41 pieces of pie. The third place winner, Dan Kennedy of West Decatur, PA, consumer 39 pieces. There was a tie for fourth place between Andy Puhl of Shippenville, PA and Brandon Clark of East St. Louis, Illinois. Both consumed 34 pieces, resulting in an “eat off.” Andy Puhl took the honors by finishing two pieces of pie first.
Professional Competitive Eater Molly Schuyler of California will be back in town this weekend to compete in the Great Pumpkin Farm’s Hands-free World Pumpkin Pie Eating Contest as part of the third weekend’s festivities at the Fall Festival. Last year, Schuyler consumed 44 pieces of pumpkin pie in 10 minutes to take first place honors (and the $1,000 prize); a tie for second place resulted in an “eat off,” which led to Dan Kennedy taking second honors.
This year marks the tenth annual competition and will include professional and non-professional eaters from across the country (and including several Western New Yorkers) and Canada, who will compete for a total of $1,800 in prize money. The Hands-free World Pumpkin Pie Eating Contest starts at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, September 28 in the Entertainment Center at the Great Pumpkin Farm.
Also happening this weekend: animatronic dinosaurs Vinnie and Teddy will be wandering around the superhero-themed corn maze from noon to 4:00 p.m. Saturday and Sunday looking for prey and kids can win prizes by drawing their favorite funny face pumpkin during the Funny Face Drawing Contest Saturday and Sunday. Plus The Balloon Experts will be here from noon to 4:00 p.m. both days creating incredible balloon characters and designs and there will be bands playing at the Witches Brew.
Friday, September 27 is indePUMPKINSday!
It’s gonna be a squashplosion of pumpkins Friday night beginning at 5:00 p.m. as the Great Pumpkin Farm, in collaboration with 103.3 The Edge and the Shredd and Ragan Show and Skylighters, will explode pumpkins of all sizes during indePUMPKINSday. There will be live music at the Witches Brew Bar and food trucks, the Pumpkin Palace and Bakery will be open and guests can purchase pumpkins. There’s NO ADMISSION to this event, which includes fireworks after the squashplosion!
As with every weekend at this annual fall attraction tradition, there’s something for everyone, including amusement rides; hayrides; corn maze; the pumpkins and mum patch; pumpkin cannon; shooting gallery; homemade donuts, pies, cookies and pastries; Halloween decorations and special events, such as the World Pumpkin Pie Eating Contest, the Trebuchet Contest and so much more!
The 18th annual Kansas City Barbecue Society (KCBS)-sanctioned Oinktoberfest BBQ Cookoff, held during this weekend’s Fall Festival at the Great Pumpkin Farm in Clarence, is now in the books!
A total of 43 teams from New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Canada competed for cash and prizes in six categories.
This year’s top winners include:
1st Place (Grand Champion)
Millers Backyard BBQ
Saratoga Springs, NY
http://millersbackyardbbq.net
With a total of 688.5140 points
2nd Place (Reserve Grand Champion)
Big Raz BBQ
Melrose, NY
With a total of 682.8228 points
If you love good BBQ – and who doesn’t? – the Great Pumpkin Farm’s Fall Festival in Clarence, NY is where you want to be this weekend, as more than 90 teams compete in the annual Oinktoberfest BBQ Cookoff – New York State’s longest continually running sanctioned BBQ competition! The theme for this year’s event is “Aloha to the Pig!”
Preview night is this Friday, September 20 and includes FREE ADMISSION to the Great Pumpkin Farm (note that the Fall Festival will NOT be open on Friday night). Gates open at 5:00 p.m. so guests can enjoy finger-lickin’ delicious BBQ and enjoy beverages at the beer and wine garden. Buffalo’s own Miller and the Other Sinners will provide a southern soul backdrop of great music from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. on the main stage.
The Fall Festival kicks off its second weekend at 10:00 a.m. Saturday with its usual activities and events plus more delicious BBQ at the main event: the Kansas City Barbeque Society (KCBS)-sanctioned OINKTOBERFEST competition. Judging takes place beginning at noon; the awards ceremony begins at 5:00 p.m. Team entries will be judged and scored according to KCBS guidelines and rules. Food categories will include chicken, pork ribs, pork butt/shoulder and beef brisket. The scores of these four categories determine the Grand Champion.
Sunday promises more delicious eats with the Backyard BBQ & RibOink-Off. There will also be live music on the main stage, as well as a performance by traditional hula dancers at 11:00 a.m. and by Buffalo alternative artist Grace Stumberg at 6:00 p.m.
Also happening this weekend: Zombies will be wandering around the superhero-themed corn maze from noon to 4:00 p.m. Saturday and Sunday and The Balloon Experts will be on hand from noon to 4:00 both days making incredible balloon characters and designs.
As with every year at this annual fall attraction tradition, there’s something for everyone, including amusement rides; hayrides; corn maze; the pumpkins and mum patch; pumpkin cannon; shooting gallery; homemade donuts, pies, cookies and pastries; Halloween decorations and special events, such as the World Pumpkin Pie Eating Contest, the Trebuchet Contest and so much more!
