I’ve always thought that the Black Hills and the Rapid City area seem to do everything in a big way. This year’s 1st Annual Pumpkin Festival, to be held in downtown Rapid City, will be no exception.

The event will feature huge pumpkins – some expected to push the 1,000 pound mark!  I’ve seen some big fruits and vegetables before, but this I’m going to have to go see with my own eyes.

The Pumpkin Festival will kick off on Friday afternoon, October 2nd, at 4:00 with a pumpkin catapult competition at Dakota Middle School.  14 teams of engineering students from the School of Mines & Technology will compete to see who has designed the best pumpkin flinging contraption. They’ll be judged on distance and accuracy as they aim for a tractor tire target on the far end of the football field.

Saturday morning, October 3rd, brings the official giant pumpkin weigh-in. It will be held just outside the Windsor Block Grocery company on 7th Street and will award $1 per pound to the winning grower. A co-worker of mine had grand ambitions earlier this summer and wanted to grow a giant pumpkin of her own.  She’ll not be competing – let’s just say that local deer had more luck with the pumpkin than she did.

Saturday morning will also showcase the Black Hills Farmers Market, pumpkin decorating, a quilt show, scarecrow competition and a children’s area.  Many of the downtown Rapid City restaurants will be serving lunch features ranging from pumpkin creme brule to pumpkin soup.  After lunch, be sure to stick around and watch the kid’s costume parade followed by a tractor parade.

Throughout both days there will be an Oktoberfest beverage tent open to serve seasonal drinks and bratwurst – two of my favorites. So, mark your calendar for October 2nd and 3rd and plan to attend this fun event in downtown Rapid City.  I’ll be there because let’s face it, what more can a person ask for than catapulting pumpkins, a tractor parade and a beverage tent. See you at the Pumpkin Festival!