Heidelberg awaits that one-tonner…
When does a pumpkin become a tourist attraction? When the scales reach a ton!
Every year, participants and spectators from all over the Garden Route, Boland and Overberg head for Heidelberg’s Giant Pumpkin Festival. Then it is time for the battle of the gigantic pumpkins.
The precious cargo, strapped in on bakkies or trailers, are off-loaded using special harnesses and a forklift, installed on wooden pallets i, and then weighed. “It is a quite a thing to behold,” says Altus Joubert, chair of the committee that has been organising the festival since 2007.
In the first year, when the winning pumpkin clocked in at 46,5 kg, the committee hoped they would reach 100 kg one day. “Last year’s pumpkin was 903 kg – now we’re aiming for a ton,” laughs Altus.
“Two years ago we had a pumpkin weighing 904,5 kg,” Altus boasts. “We have also had the largest pumpkin in the southern hemisphere several times – currently we hold that record.”
And what is the current world record? An almighty 1,247 tons!
The event is not all about records, though. The bumper programme offers something for everyone: a social golf day, a bowls competition and the extremely popular 4x4 excursion in the dunes. Glamping facilities are available.
Date 4–6 April in Heidelberg, Cape Tickets R200 pp (R100 for children and pensioners) on Friday and Saturday; a weekend pass costs R300 and R200 respectively. Tickets available at Heidelberg Spar and Delish, or ring Anita Turck on 082 661 4214.
pumpkinfestival.co.za
Going global
At times the festivalgoers include foreign “world pumpkin ambassadors”, because the event is affiliated with the Great Pumpkin Commonwealth.
“Every pumpkin we weigh goes onto their global database so that our records can be recognised,” Altus explains. “This connects us with other growers of large pumpkins all over the world. And we may buy the pumpkin seeds of record holders to improve our genetics.”
The committee has worked hard to build a strong local gene pool. “We now know exactly which pumpkins are South Africa’s record holders, and also who their parents and grandparents and even their great-grandparents are!” he says.