PUMPKIN soup literally walked out the door at Collector on Sunday. Patrons of the annual Pumpkin Festival couldn’t get enough in the chilly conditions.
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In the kitchen, cooks churned out more than 240 litres of soup and baked over 120 dozen pumpkin scones.
Festival president, Gary Poile said at least 6000 people poured through the gates. They included Goulburn, Canberra and region visitors and four unexpected busloads from Tallong’s Apple Day.
“We’re pretty happy with it. If we can do that on a rough day, that’s not bad,” he said.
Visitors were spoilt for choice. If they weren’t taking in the food stalls, they enjoyed onstage entertainment, displays and a host of activities.
Entries were up in almost every category, including the giant pumpkin contest, with 20 contenders. Robertson grower Rick Downes won this year’s competition with a whopping 266.5kg variety.
Those vying for glory in the pie, scones, cakes and preserves categories doubled last year’s entries.
Children and seniors frightened the feathers off pesky birds with 100 entries in the scarecrow competition.
Outside, kids lost their way in a ‘hay bale maze’. Some 300 bales were arranged in a pattern, which ended with a slippery dip exit.
“It was a complete riot,” Mr Poile said.
“Who knew hay could bring so many hours of fun?”
Former Hooley Dooleys performer Antoine Demarest packed out the hall with his performance.
Then there was the ‘inflatable salmon,’ a mini hot air balloon which came all the way from Melbourne. Children could go into the fish’s belly and sing songs.
“Judging from the number of kids running around singing ‘I’m a pumpkin, I’m a pumpkin,’ it was very popular,” Mr Poile joked.
All up, the festival went “pretty much without a hitch.”
A committee of 12 and an army of volunteers run the festival.
Money raised from the event goes into community projects. Last year’s $15,000 profit helped out the Gunning Health Centre, with a $3000 donation, among other organisations.
This year, money will go to the Gunning Historical Society to help mark the 150th anniversary of the shooting of Constable Nelson by bushrangers, and to local facilities such as the oval and amenities.
Funds have also supported a new sign for the village – ‘Collector: Home of the Pumpkin Festival.’
After a debrief meeting, planning will start for next year’s event.
Meantime, the committee finished cleaning up on Monday.
“By the time the pumpkin festival is finished, it looks like an army has been through the place. Everything has been raided,” Mr Poile said.
