SNOHOMISH — Fall is coming and people here are getting ready to celebrate the harvest.
The Snohomish Pumpkin Hurl &Medieval Faire starts at 10 a.m. Saturday and continues until 4 p.m. Sunday at Alexander Farm, on the corner 43rd Ave. SE and Ebey Island Road in Everett.
A group of seven Snohomish Valley farmers organize the annual event to kick off seasonal festivities.
During the fall Snohomish Pumpkin Festival, the farmers host mobs of visitors with a variety of attractions, such as pumpkin patches and corn mazes. They decided to band together years ago to grow agricultural tourism and increase business.
For the pumpkin hurl, teams bring their own catapulting machines to see who can fling the fruit the farthest.
This year the contest features a 12-foot trebuchet built by 4-H group from Lynnwood.
“Students did all the construction, including the welding,” Snohomish Festival of Pumpkins Manager Debbie Carlson-Gould said.
The medieval fair features activities, classes, artisans, a weapons and armor museum, a living-history village and experts on-site to show people how to shoot arrows, fight with Viking shields and try on chain-mail shirts.
“People can come learn to fight like a Viking,” Carlson-Gould said.
Fully-armored warriors will demonstrate their skills in a tournament. Adults and children may take part in mock battles and warrior training.
Kids learn the rules of chivalry and battle with boffer swords.
“Then they get to battle each other,” Carlson-Gould said. “They love it.”
For the first time this year, the Pirates of Treasure Island will show off black powder cannons in three daily demonstrations.
“They are super loud and cool,” Carlson-Gould said.
The Seattle Knights, a sword fighting and horseback jousting theatrical troupe, are returning to the festival to entertain the crowds.
People are encouraged to dress in any kind of “family-friendly” costume but it is not required, Carlson-Gould said. People of all ages can strut their stuff in the daily costume contests.
The event features food trucks, craft distillers and even mead tasting. There will also be fairy tea parties and parades for children.
On Sunday, the lineup includes pumpkin hurl competitors demonstrating throws. There’s also a time where people can launch their own pumpkins.
Admission is $8 and parking costs $5. Children younger than age four get in free.
For more information and a full schedule of events, go to festivalofpumpkins.org.
Amy Nile: 425-339-3192; anile@heraldnet.com.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
