1500 pumpkins roll down Policeman’s Hill for annual festival tradition

Crowds at the 2021 Goomeri Pumpkin Festival have exceeded expectations as clear skies and cool weather helped draw about 30,000 people to the western reaches of the Gympie region over the weekend.

The weather could not have been better as thousands of visited descended on Goomeri for the first pumpkin festival in two years, after the 2020 festival was cancelled due to COVID.

This year was also the festival’s 25th anniversary, which organisers hoped would draw even bigger crowds.

Organisers were hoping for a crowd of 25,000 but numbers exceeded expectation.

The highlight of Sunday - and the festival - was the Great Australian Pumpkin Roll, with a huge crowd lining up to roll their pumpkins down Policeman’s Hill.

Winner of the 2021 Great Australian Pumpkin Roll: Jon Edwards

It was estimated by Ms Boyter about 1500 pumpkins were rolled in the tradition.

The winner of the Great Australian Pumpkin Roll was Jon Edwards from Brisbane, who also won a grand prize of $1000.

Some other attractions included three giant pumpkins, belonging to Goomeri State School students Rachael Litfin, James, and Banjo.

The winning pumpkin, grown by James, weighed a whopping 44kg, while Banjo and Rachael’s pumpkins weighed 42kg and 14kg.

Winners of the giant pumpkin competition at the Goomeri Pumpkin Festival 2021: first place, James from Goomeri State School (44kg); second place, Banjo from Goomeri State School (42kg); third place, Rachel Litfin from Goomeri State School (14kg).

An unsuspecting couple, Damon and Amanda Endersby, were also named Pumpkin Pageant King and Queen.

“We didn’t even know the pageant was a thing,” said Damon.

The four-day festival concluded for another year on Sunday afternoon.

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