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!

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!

The Great Pumpkin Farm’s Fall Festival will celebrate its 24th year as Western New York’s favorite fall destination when it opens on September 14 at 10:00 a.m. For seven consecutive weekends, the Fall Festival offers something for every age, 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 Oinktoberfest, New York State’s BBQ Cook-off – and so much more!

This year, the Great Pumpkin Farm has once again declared opening weekend – September 14 and 15 – to be Armed Forces Weekend, in collaboration with WNYHeroes, Inc. The regular admission fee will be waived for active duty and retired military, police or fire department personnel who present proper identification to WNYHeroes representatives at the gate; they will also be permitted to bring one guest for free. WNYHeroes representatives will also be on hand at an informational booth in the Event Center at the Great Pumpkin Farm.

All attractions will be up and running on opening weekend, and additional entertainment will include Vinnie and Teddy, the ever-popular animatronic dinosaurs, who will roam the corn maze both days from noon until 4:00 p.m. looking for their prey, the Balloon Experts, who will amaze with their incredible balloon characters and designs and live music in The Witches Brew indoor or outdoor bar (weather depending).

WHAT’S NEW THIS YEAR:

New features added this year to the Fall Festival include:

• Superheroes-themed Corn Maze

The Witches Brew Bar will be open every weekend, with live music inside or out (depending on weather).

FALL FESTIVAL WEEKEND HIGHLIGHTS:

• WEEKEND #1: September 14 & 15 – Armed Forces Weekend with WNYHeroes; Dinosaurs in the Corn Maze; The Balloon Experts and live music in The Witches Brew.
• WEEKEND #2: September 20-22 – Oinktoberfest 2019, including Friday Night BBQ Preview Night (FREE admission); Oinktoberfest, New York State’s official KCBS-sanctioned BBQ Cookoff on Saturday; Zombies in the Corn Maze; The Balloon Experts and live music in The Witches Brew.
• WEEKEND #3: September 28-29 – The World Pumpkin Pie Eating Contest on Saturday; Funny Face Drawing Contest; Dinosaurs in the Corn Maze; The Balloon Experts; live music in The Witches Brew and Indepumpkins Day on Friday night (with fireworks!).
• WEEKEND #4: October 5 & 6 – Superheroes Weekend and World Pumpkin Weigh Off on Saturday; Dinosaurs in the Corn Maze; The Balloon Experts; live music in The Witches Brew and In Jest Juggling & Comedy Show
• WEEKEND #5: October 12, 13 & 14 (Columbus Day Weekend) Pumpkin Drop on Monday (Columbus Day); Pumpkin Olympics; In Jest Juggling & Comedy Show; Zombies in the Corn Maze; The Balloon Experts; live music in The Witches Brew; Awesome Paws Rescue and $20 Wristband Day (Monday only)
• WEEKEND #6: October 19 & 20 – Annual Trebuchet (catapult) Contest with local high school teams (practice Saturday, contest Sunday); Zombies in the Corn Maze; The Balloon Experts and live music in The Witches Brew.
• WEEKEND #7: October 26 & 27 – FINAL WEEKEND; Costume Contest; The Balloon Experts and live music in The Witches Brew.