SNOHOMISH— First, the pumpkins flew. Now they will float.
The grand finale of the Festival of Pumpkins will be at 11 a.m., Saturday in downtown Snohomish with the 5th Annual Snohomish River Greatest Pumpkin Race.
“It’s a family event where you can come downtown and have fun,” manager of the Snohomish Chamber of Commerce Pam Osborne said.
Activities include face painting, pumpkin carving and a pumpkin pie-eating contest. Children and pets in costumes can participate in a parade and trick-or-treat from businesses along Avenue A.
Then, at 2:30 p.m., up to 500 sugar pumpkins donated by local farms will be thrown to the river in a race where residents can earn cash prizes.
The race will start at the Snohomish river threshold at the foot of Cady Park and end on the bridge at Avenue D. Osborne recommends Kla Ha Ya park as the best view of the race.
People can buy a ticket to choose one pumpkin. The first three pumpkins that cross the finish line will win from $200 to $50.
Tickets are $5 each and proceeds benefit the Snohomish Chamber of Commerce and the Snohomish County Search and Rescue team. The chamber will use the money to help pay for operational costs and events they sponsor over the year, Osborne said.
The chamber expects a couple of hundred visitors but weather can affect attendance.
The Water Rescue Team will give a demonstration at 1 p.m. and they will pick up the pumpkins at the end of the race. Then all the pumpkins will be donated to the Snohomish Food Bank and the Boys and Girls Club.
Every year there are a few pumpkins that escape the rescue team but sooner or later they come back.
“It’s strange. They float upstream when the tide changes,” Osborne said.
The event also is sponsored by Historic Downtown Snohomish which will launch its scavenger hunt, which lasts until Halloween, where people can win gifts certificates from 17 merchants in the area.
Alejandro Dominguez: 425-339-3422; adominguez@heraldnet.com
5th Annual Snohomish River Greatest Pumpkin Race
11 a.m. – 3 p.m. Saturday, Avenue A, from First Street to the gazebo.
More information: www.cityofsnohomish.com
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