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Giant pumpkins a hit at Milford festival

This aerial shot of downtown Milford taken during the Pumpkin Festival Saturday morning was taken by a drone. (Courtesy of underthesun.media)

MILFORD – Gardening’s ultimate challenge. That’s how Barry LeBlanc talks about growing the giant pumpkins that are the stars of county fairs and pumpkin festivals all over New England.

LeBlanc, of Merrimack, has been growing the giant vegetables for 11 years and won third prize for his 1,318-pound pumpkin at the Milford Pumpkin Festival on Saturday.

“You start with a little seed and nurture it,” he said. And you end up with a giant vegetable that draws admiring crowds.

John Girgus of Derry won first prize for his 1,485.5 vegetable. Girgus, president of the New Hampshire Giant Pumpkin Growers Association gathered near the giant pumpkin display across from Milford Town Hall with a half dozen or so men around noon to wait for the award ceremony. They all agreed that growing oversized pumpkins had been especially challenging this year because of the cool, rainy weather.

Friendly rivals, they talked about seeds, growing conditions and pumpkin boats.

A cupcake stand in front of Union Street Grill drew a crowd during the Milford Pumpkin Festival Friday night.

Pumpkin boats? The weekend of Oct. 14, they will carve their pumpkins into boats, using sand for ballast and milk crates for seats, and paddle them down the Piscataquog River in Goffstown for the annual Great Pumpkin Weigh-Off and Regatta.

Peter Crisp, of Nashua, has been growing pumpkins for more than a decade and was not surprised his entry, at 609.5 pounds, only came in fourth, since he grew it in a new garden that hadn’t been enriched.

“It was good for the first year,” he said.

Near the giant gourds was an odd sight, a 125-inch long squash grown by LeBlanc. The skinny squash was not as conspicuous but much stranger than the pumpkins,

The annual Milford Pumpkin Festival opened Friday evening, and as part of the opening ceremonies, Milford Historical Society President David Palance gave the town’s annual Citizen of the Year award to Chris Costantino, a longtime volunteer who serves on the conservation and recreation commissions and the Wadeigh Library Board of Trustees.

Peter Crisp, of Nashua, had the smallest giant pumpkin at the Milford Pumpkin Festival Saturday, but it was the one that looked most like a pumpkin.

Watching the ceremonies was Milford High School teacher Dave Alcox, who was fundraising for the school’s We the People team.

“I’ve always loved the Pumpkin Fest,” he said. “It’s such amazing communitarianism as we run into friends, families, coworkers. It’s just a fantastic experience for our town.”

Judi Sortino of Amherst has been attending the festival for as long as it has been around, and this, the 28th year, she was there Friday evening with her two grandchildren, Sophia, 6, and Tyler, 3 1/2.

She especially loves “the music, and the feeling of community coming together to celebrate autumn.”

Sophia’s favorite part is the rides. “I went on the slide!” she said.

Artfully arranged small pumpkins are displayed near the giant specimens during the Milford Pumpkin Festival.

Kathy Cleveland can be reached at 673-3100 or kcleveland@cabinet.com.

Meagan McLean contributed to this report. She can be reached at mmclean@milfordk12.org.

John Girgus, of Derry, earned first place in the Giant Pumpkin Weigh-in for his 1,485.5 pound pumpkin.

Giant Pumpkin Weigh-In Winners

First place – John Grigas of Derry, 1,485.5 pounds

Second place – Steve Geddes of Boscawen, 1,361.5 pounds

Third place – Barry LeBlanc of Merrimack, 1318 pounds

Fourth place – Peter Crisp, Nashua. 609.5 pounds

Talent Contest Winners

Youth

Audience choice and first place youth – Sierra Landel playing her fiddle WHILE on a pogo stick!!

Second place – Carter Riggins

Third place – Kyra Whitehead

Adult

First place – Kalli Bogdzewic

Second place – Karissa Voncent

Third place – Ashley Swanson and Sophie Linkroum

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