Big Pumpkin Contest to be part of TASC Fall Festival

by Lissa Blake

A long-running Waukon area tradition will see some big changes this fall.
The annual Big Pumpkin Contest, held on the last Sunday of September, will become part of the TASC Fall Festival, a celebration of TASC’s 40th anniversary this year.
TASC is a private, non-profit organization dedicated to providing quality community-based services to people with disabilities. TASC's mission is to provide support services that give people with disabilities choice, respect and participation in the community.
TASC has been involved in the contest for the last few years, including some 400-pound-plus entries the past two years.
“After the Big Pumpkin event last September, a number of people expressed an interest in expanding the event. They were looking for more exposure and a way to bring people to the community. We were approached about helping and thought it would be a good thing,” said Jason Howes of TASC.
TASC will co-sponsor the event with the Allamakee County Fair Board and will continue to work with the past Big Pumpkin committee.
“We’re looking for a very fun, celebratory atmosphere,” said Howes of the event, which will take place on the grounds of the TASC facility located at the corner of Hwy 76 N. and Mt. Olivet Road north of Waukon.
“We’re not doing this as a fundraiser. We want people to just come and have fun,” said Howes.
The TASC Fall Festival will take place Sunday, September 28, rain or shine. Hours will be from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
TASC representatives said they are still working on the logistics, but plans include live music, kids activities, face painting, pumpkin decorating, mini golf, bean bag toss, balloons, caricature drawings, a coloring contest and more. “We’re just hoping it will be a family fun time,” said Howes.
The menu will include the traditional Big Pumpkin menu of pork loin, mashed potatoes, gravy, corn and dessert. Lemonade and coffee will also be served.

THE CONTESTS
Contest categories for the annual event will also be expanded this year. These will include competitions for big pumpkins, big gourds/long gourds, big watermelons, big sunflowers and pork loin.
In addition to a pumpkin bake-off, bakers can also use apple in their recipes. Bake-off categories will include cookies, bars, pies, desserts and “other,” and there will also be a children’s category.
Pumpkin, gourd and watermelon seeds can be picked up at the TASC office or Jet’s Meat Processing in Waukon. Sunflower seed pots will be available at the Veterans Memorial Hospital Wellness Fair Wednesday, May 14, from 3:30-6:30 p.m.
The Big Pumpkin contest entry fee is $25 (this includes two meal tickets); Loin entry fee is $25; big gourd/long gourd is $15 and big watermelon is $15. The bake-off entry fee is $10 for up to two entries and $5 for each additional entry.

EXPANDED ENTRIES
In an effort to add to the fun, this year’s event will also include a number of other pumpkin categories. “We decided to open it up to field pumpkins and people can register those the day of the event. We’ll be judging the smallest, most unique, prettiest, ‘orange-ist’ and ugliest pumpkins. We encourage anyone who wants to participate to bring their homegrown pumpkins,” said Howes.
Additional information will be available as the event grows nearer, including a registration form, which will be published in The Standard newspaper at a later date. “We’re hoping this will be fun and that it becomes an annual event,” said Howes.
For more information, call 563-568-4060.