Fall is in the air so that must mean that it is almost time for the 16th Annual West Coast Giant Pumpkin Regatta! The Regatta has become one of the most anticipated events in the Northwest. In 2018 over 20,000 people gathered around the Lake of the Commons to watch the spectacle of costumed characters paddling 1,000-pound pumpkin boats in a series of wacky races.
The Regatta has something for everyone! Start the day at Tualatin Community Park for the 5k Regatta Run. At 10:00 am the Regatta opens, and families can try pumpkin bowling, pumpkin golf, pumpkin checkers, pie-eating contests, costume contests, pumpkin crafts, food and much more.
This year spectators will have the opportunity to catch the races at two different times! At noon watch the Pacific Giant Vegetable Growers battle it out in the first race followed by the sponsor race. At 2 pm Tualatin Police Department and Tualatin Valley Fire and Rescue will team up to race the public, and the final race will be for the paddlers that were chosen from the lottery.
Visit the City’s website for a complete list of activities, parking, and shuttle information at www.tualatinoregon.gov/pumpkinregatta. Admission and most activities are free!
Treasure Hunters will enjoy the annual Regatta Medallion Hunt! Look for the bronze Regatta medallion that is hidden somewhere on City property. You can find a new clue every Thursday between September 19 and October 10 on the City of Tualatin website and Regatta Facebook page. The person that finds the medallion will win a fantastic prize package including a bronze medallion of their own!
Be sure to kick off the Regatta weekend with Pumpkins and Pints on Friday, October 18 at Stickmen Brewery in Tualatin. Watch the Terminator Giant Pumpkin Weigh-Off, New Seasons Giant Tomato Contest, sample craft beer, see a pumpkin carving demo, and enjoy dinner. Tickets are on sale now at www.tualatinoregon.gov/pumpkinregatta/pumpkins-and-pints.
The Regatta would not be possible without our Sasquash Sponsors: A Group Real Estate, Comcast, GEICO, Pacific Giant Vegetable Growers, and Wilsonville Toyota. Gourdzilla level sponsors are AARP, AT&T, Basics Market, Cabot Creamery Cooperative, Cabela’s, Full Circle Market, New Seasons Market, Power Crunch, Willamette Valley Bank, NW Natural, Renewal by Andersen, Stickmen Brewery and Willamette Valley Bank. Community and In-Kind sponsors include Alder Creek Kayak and Canoe, Century Hotel, Citizen’s Bank, Lee Farms, Village Inn Restaurant, Starbucks, Willowbrook Arts Camp and Tualatin Island Greens.
About the Pumpkin Regatta/Schedule of Events
In 2004 the Pacific Giant Vegetable Growers were looking for a location to do an end-of-season paddle with a handful of giant pumpkins. Today the West Coast Giant Pumpkin Regatta, held at the Lake at Tualatin Commons, has grown into an event with a national reputation that draws thousands of people each year.
If you have never seen the Pumpkin Regatta, then you probably have never seen costumed characters paddling 1,000-pound pumpkins around the Lake of the Commons in a series of wacky races.
Over the last 15 years, the award-winning West Coast Giant Pumpkin Regatta has become Oregon’s most anticipated Fall event. Spectators come from not only the Pacific Northwest but also from all over the United States and Canada. The event has been featured by a wide variety of local, regional, and national, and international media outlets including the Wall Street Journal, Southwest and Alaska Airlines magazine, AAA Via Magazine, CNN, the Travel Channel, Better Homes and Gardens, HGTV, Food Network Magazine, and much more.
The Regatta also includes a pie-eating contest, kids’ costume contest, pumpkin golf, pumpkin bowling, clown shows, hot food and much more.
Admission to the festival is free as are most of the activities.
PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE
10:00 am Welcome and Sponsor Recognition
10:30 am Costume Contest
11:30 am Mz Pearl’s Variety Show
12:00 noon Pumpkin Races 1 & 2 Featuring the Pacific Giant Vegetable Growers and Regatta sponsors
1:00 pm Village Inn Pie Eating Contest
1:30 pm Tualatin High School Marching Band Pep Rally
2:00 pm Pumpkin races 3 & 4 Featuring Tualatin PD/ TVF&R vs Public and Lottery Winners
3:00 pm Mz Pearl’s Variety Show
4:00 pm Event Closes
VENDOR BOOTHS
Sponsors:
A Group Real Estate – Will have a photo booth featuring a giant pumpkin.
City of Tualatin – Stop by to learn about programs and services that the City offers.
Comcast –
GEICO – People can meet the Gecko, enter to win a $200 gift card, and take home a little prize.
Pacific Giant Vegetable Growers – Stop by their booth to learn about growing giant pumpkins and buy seeds!
Wilsonville Toyota – Will team up with iHeart Radio for the Wilsonville Toyota Fun Zone. Check out the two cars and spin the wheel to win a prize.
AARP – Play a game and learn about all of the free workshops and events that AARP puts on!
AT&T – Stop by and visit with our friends from AT&T.
Basics Market – Learn about this exciting new market coming to Tualatin!
Cabot Creamery Cooperative – Sample yummy cheese
Cabelas – Will have their mobile archery and BB range units on hand so you can take aim at targets. Look for them on the East side of the lake!
Full Circle Market
New Seasons Market – Will be handing out samples of their delicious pumpkin bread.
Power Crunch – Will be handing out samples.
Willamette Valley Bank – Will be holding a raffle for two fabulous gift baskets and will be hosting an open house at their office right on the Lake of the Commons! Stop by and enjoy hot cider or coffee and giveaways for the kids!
NW Natural – Play “Cow Chip Toss” and learn about how to offset your carbon footprint.
Renewal by Andersen – Check out what is happening at Renewal by Andersen.
Stickmen’s Brewery – Sample Stickmen’s fall beers!
ACTIVITIES
Pumpkin Bowling – Knock down bowling pins using a pumpkin in one of four bowling lanes (at the Power Crunch tent and on the East side of the lake!)
Pumpkin Golf – Try to hit floating golf balls into pumpkins in the lake for a prize from Tualatin Island Greens. Located at the North end of the lake.
Pumpkin Tic Tac Toe – Look for tic tac toe around the lake and play with mini pumpkins.
Pumpkin Checkers – Stop and play pumpkin checkers at one of the boards set up around the lake.
Village Inn Pumpkin Pie eating contest on the main stage. Stop by the Information Tent starting at 10:00 am to sign up. Limit of 10 people per age category.
Kids’ Costume Contest. Sign up begins at 10:00am at the Information Tent. Limit of 25 kids per age group.
Clown extraordinaire Heather Pearl will be back to entertain the crowd with Mz. Pearl’s Variety Show.
Tualatin Public Library will be on the East side of the lake with the Maker Space trailer.
Tualatin Police Department – Check out the police motorcycle and meet an officer.
Willowbrook Arts Camp will be on hand doing crafts with the kids.
Watch pumpkin carving experts Tim Pate and Tom Lindskog work their magic. Tim will be on the west side of the lake and Tom will be on the east side.
State Farm – make a fun fall craft with State Farm!
STA Busses
FOOD
Cowgirl Cook’n – TexMex Bowls, Enchiladas, Fresca Wraps, and Deluxe Nachos.
Henry Higgins Boiled Bagels – Bagels, cream cheese, ruben sandwiches, pastries.
Krakelen – Wood Fired Pizza.
On Tots – loaded tots, totchos, tots n gravy.
Doug’s Kettle Corn – Original kettle corn, caramel corn, cheese corn.
Pilgrim’s Roasted Nutz – small Bavarian Roasted Nut company specializing in fresh flavored and roasted nuts of many varieties.
Lee Farms – Selling pumpkin donuts, apple cider donuts, apple cider and caramel apples.
Starbucks will be handing out free hot cocoa and coffee.
Aloha Concessions will be on the East side of the lake offering shave ice, cotton candy, and hot dogs.
ARTS AND CRAFTS
Brenna White – Regatta artist Brenna White will be on the main plaza.
Regatta Merchandise Tent – Purchase a Regatta event or skull t-shirt, poster and coloring book. New this year a kids’ color your own sugar skull shirt that can be colored with fabric markers and a Paddle or Die pint glass!
The Tualatin Youth Advisory Council (YAC) will be hosting the pumpkin decorating and face painting station. Purchase a pumpkin to decorate while supplies last.
The Tualatin Public Library will have the Maker Space onsite for creative fun.
Have your face painted by the Tualatin Youth Advisory Council.
BBNW Candles – 100% soy wax hand-poured candles featuring scents for Fall.
Zac “O” Lanterns – hand-carved pumpkins will be for sale on the Main Plaza.
Joe Mishkin – making balloon creations on the East side of the lake.
Hector Estrada – Caricatures.
PUMPKIN RACES
NEW THIS YEAR! The pumpkin races will be at 12 pm and 2 pm
12:00 Noon:
Heat One – This race is for members of the Pacific Giant Vegetable Growers. This fabulous club grows the pumpkins for the Regatta. They paddle their own pumpkins or can have a friend paddle for them. If you are growing your own giant pumpkin, we encourage you to contact the PGVG to find out more about entering your pumpkin in the race.
Heat Two – This race is for our Sasquash Sponsors, Gourdzilla Sponsors and invited special guests.
2:00 pm:
Heat Three – Tualatin Police and Tualatin Valley Fire and Rescue vs paddlers from the lottery. Paddlers will grab a numbered duck from the pile and race back across the finish line. The first 11 ducks to cross the line will win a prize!
Heat Four – This race is for the people that were selected from the lottery.
Dogs
Although we love dogs, we recommend that you leave your pup at home. The Regatta can be overwhelming for animals. There are a lot of people (some in crazy costumes), and there is even a marching band performing on the plaza at one point. We have found that it can be stressful for even the sweetest of dogs.
Pumpkin Regatta Volunteers Opportunities:
Join the Crew for the 16th Annual West Coast Giant Pumpkin Regatta! www.tualatinoregon.gov/volunteer/pumpkin-regatta-volunteers-2019
For more information about events happening at the Pumpkin Regatta, go to TuCPF Rubber Duck Fundraiser, Pumpkins and Pints, Pacific Giant Vegetable Growers’ Terminator Weigh-Off, and Medallion Hunt.
