The Chamber of Commerce is set to kick off its first annual Pumpkinfest early next month.

The festival will feature giant pumpkins, some weighing more than 1,000 pounds. Giant gourds and watermelons will also be on hand.

All giant vegetables will have a weigh-in session Saturday, followed by a carving and decoration celebration and the regatta Sunday.

"The public is encouraged to bring their oversized vegetables for the weigh-in, no matter what size," said Cooperstown Chamber of Commerce Director Polly Renckens.

Saturday's events will be held at the Doubleday Field parking lot, with pumpkin growers' registration in the morning, followed by weigh-ins all afternoon. Other activities on hand will include professional pumpkin sculpting, pumpkin decorating, and crafts. There will be an antique car show on Railroad Avenue and "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown" will be shown by the Baseball Hall of Fame in the Bullpen Theatre.

Lakefront Park will be the site of the first annual pumpkin regatta Sunday. The giant pumpkins will be hollowed out and decorated in preparation for the race later that day. Contestants will get inside their pumpkins and paddle them around the course. The featured race will be between a Cooperstown pumpkin and one that will be shipped here from Windsor, Nova Scotia. Other family activities will be available, including pumpkin bowling.

Music will play all weekend, with a disc jockey and live music on hand by Panther Creek.

"We are looking forward to a great turnout," Renckens said.

Janice Eichler and her two grandchildren, Brock and Ava Eichler, started growing their pumpkins back in April, Janice said. In June, they moved the vines outside into the backyard of Janice's home on the Esposito Farm in Portlandville. She said they did not use any special growing techniques, except for bringing in top soil and chicken manure and covering the plants with dark plastic in the early growing process.

Janice, who is on the board of directors for the Chamber of Commerce, said she decided to grow giant pumpkins when she first heard of the contest. She thought it would be a good way to spend time with her grandchildren, who live in Oneonta.

"They really had fun with it," Janice said. "I like to grow things with the kids and the kids like to help."

The Eichlers started with six Atlantic Giant Pumpkin seeds from Ontario, Canada, all of which grew to around 100 pounds. Janice, Brock, and Ava each claimed one of the pumpkins as their own and named them. Janice' is named Oscar, Brock's is Antonio, and Ana's is Pumpkin.

Eichler and her grandchildren look forward to the coming festival, weighing in their pumpkins and then carving and decorating them for the contest.

"I'm hoping this is an annual event," Janice said.

Renckens said the Chamber of Commerce has made a friendly challenge to the village of Windsor to top this event. The giant pumpkin seeds, including the seeds used in growing the Cooperstown pumpkins, come from Windsor.

Windsor is the sister city of Cooperstown and also the birthplace of hockey, Canada's national pastime.

Local merchants and attractions are expected to participate throughout the weekend.

The Doubleday field parking lot will not be available for parking use on Saturday.

The two-day celebration starts Oct. 2, with grower registration on Saturday at 8 a.m. and weigh-in and festivities from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. Pumpkins of all sizes are welcome in the contest. The entry fee is $10, which includes a t-shirt and a chance to win additional prizes. Sunday's events will run from 12 p.m. until 3 p.m.

For more information, visit www.cooperstownchamber.org or call 607-547-9571.

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