The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Mentor hosts its first pumpkin derby
Participants of all ages came out to the City of Mentor’s firstever Pumpkin Derby.
“I came up with the idea and we ran with,” said Maggie Kuyasa, recreation coordinator of City of Mentor Parks and Recreation.
“We just wanted a new holiday event for families and to bring the community together,” Kuyasa said.
It took place on Oct. 10 at the Civic Center park located 8500 Civic Center Blvd.
Eat’n Park restaurant in Mentor donated cookies and the Mentor Public Library donated free books, she said.
The pumpkin derby consisted of numerous contestants who designed their own pumpkin race cars using a single pumpkin, two axles and wheels.
They varied in color, theme and construction.
One of the derby contestants, Rachel Daling, 26, of Mentor said creating it was a family effort and a lot of fun.
The pumpkin racers had to be less than 20 pounds and were weighed prior to the race. It was a side-by-side elimination race on an inclined race ramp.
Other attractions included an all-ages costume contest, a family
pumpkin carving contest and a pumpkin pie eating contest.
The costume contest had six different categories starting from ages 0-5 to adults, 18 years and
older, Kuyasa said.
“The pumpkin pie-eating contest is open to whoever wants to do it,” she said.
Each contestant was given a standard round pie and the person that ate the most in two minutes, won.
Small prizes were awarded to all winners.
“It sounds like it is competitive because there are a lot of contests, but really it’s all for fun,” she said.
Kuyasa plans to hold another pumpkin derby next year.
“It sounds like it is competitive because there are a lot of contests, but really it’s all for fun.” Maggie Kuyusa Recreation coordinator, mentor parks and recreation