By Rod Hansen
Staff Writer

An autumn tradition will enliven Main Street next month with the return of the Giant Pumpkin Weigh-off and Regatta the weekend of Oct. 14.

Heavy rains forced cancellation of the event last year, but the pumpkin weigh-off and family fun days will continue this year as planned, organizers say.

“It’s really geared up to be two days of activities,” said Karen Henderson, president of the Goffstown Main Street Program’s board of directors.

The Giant Pumpkin Weigh-off and Regatta serves as one of the program’s primary fundraising activities of the year, Henderson said.

“There will be lots of food to eat and things to do, and it’s also a way to show off Goffstown’s Main Street,” Henderson said.

The giant pumpkin weigh-off kicks off the event on Saturday, Oct. 14, at 9 a.m. The competition serves as the state weigh-off for the New Hampshire Giant Pumpkin Growers Association.

An event to accompany the weigh-off is the Pumpkin Regatta, in which as many as 10 pumpkins are carved into boats and compete in an obstacle course.

“These boats get going pretty fast,” said Bruce Normand, chairman of the Goffstown Main Street Program’s promotions team.

“These are 800-pound pumpkins with motors attached,” Normand said.

Some organizations sponsoring boats in the regatta include area businesses, the board of selectmen, Mountain View Middle School, the Goffstown Police Department and The Goffstown News.

Besides the weigh-off and regatta, other activities scheduled for the weekend include special events and demonstrations sponsored by the stores on Main Street such as a scrapbooking session hosted by B&E Scrapbooking; Ace Hardware giving away baked apples and the sale of raffle tickets to benefit the Main Street Program.

This year’s raffle prize is an all expenses paid week-long trip to Disney World for four people, Henderson said. Raffle tickets costing $25 will be available throughout the weekend, with the final drawing scheduled for Dec. 2, she said.

The Pumpkin Weigh-off and Regatta helps support the Goffstown Main Street Program’s efforts to promote local business and culture, Henderson said. The program also gains support through fundraisers such as its annual St. Patrick’s Day Dance and a $15,000 warrant article that appears on the town ballot every year.

Other projects of the Goffstown Main Street Program include work on a plan to design a permanent stage on town common, Henderson said.

The program is also sponsoring an open studio tour end of September, as well as studying ways to advance Goffstown as a tourist destination, Henderson said.

“In general, the Main Street Program is working on ways to promote local businesses,” Henderson said. “Because there are so many restaurants, salons, and different and unique shops, we want to see what we can do to promote them. “

Giant Pumpkin Weigh-off and Regatta Schedule

Friday, Oct. 13

7 p.m. ­ Barn Dance, St. Lawrence Church.

Saturday, Oct. 14

9 a.m. ­Pumpkin weigh-off.

10 a.m. ­Dog costume contest on the common.

Noon ­ Chicken barbecue, police dog demonstration on Mill Street.

11 a.m. to 2 p.m. ­Art show .

12:30-3 p.m. Catapults on Mill Street.

2 p.m. ­ Boat building and decoration begin ­ build a boat out of a pumpkin.

All-day events ­ Pumpkin bowling, pumpkin face-painting.

Sunday, Oct. 15

Noon ­ Booths open, catapult finals.

1 p.m. ­ Giant pumpkin shopping cart race.

1:15 p.m. ­ Creation of Cardboard contest.

1:30 ­ Pie-eating contest.

2 p.m. ­ Mini-pumpkin race (dump 500 gourds into river, winners win cash prizes).

2 p.m. ­ Red wagon race.

2:45 p.m. ­ Awards ceremony, Prince and Princess.

3 p.m. ­ Regatta.

4 p.m. ­ Pumpkin Regatta trophy awards.