Festival of Halls, Pumpkin Awards Evening

26 May

Community Spirit Shines Despite Pumpkin Festival Cancellation

Although the 2026 Pumpkin Festival was officially cancelled due to unfavourable weather conditions, the community still came together for a scaled-back celebration centred around the much-anticipated Heaviest Pumpkin Weigh-In.

Over two days, 33 pumpkins were officially weighed, with award presentations held during a special community event last Saturday evening 16th May.

The event featured live entertainment made possible through Arts South’s Festival of Halls program, with local band 3Fifths keeping the crowd entertained throughout the night. The group performed a lively mix of classics spanning from the 1940s through to today, featuring Derek Morgan on bass, Whitney Weaver on vocals and Chris Walker on guitar.

Keeping the evening running smoothly, Dave Marshall took on MC duties and kept the crowd entertained from the microphone throughout the event.

Guests also enjoyed a fantastic range of activities and attractions, including raffles, a colouring-in competition, homemade pumpkin soup and popular Wagyu beef burgers. Premium beef patties for the burgers were generously supplied by Irongate Futari Wagyu.

The evening proved to be a successful community fundraiser, with proceeds donated to the Kalgan Bush Fire Brigade and the Lower Kalgan Community Association.

Awards were presented by Lachy Gilmour from Irongate Futari Wagyu, alongside Life Member of the Lower Kalgan Community Association and Kalgan Fire Brigade, John Bocian, who also presented the prestigious Bocian Perpetual Trophies.

Adding a special touch to the junior awards, Lower Kalgan Committee member, Ken Carratti crafted a new Junior Trophy along with beautifully made wooden pumpkin medallions for the junior winners to keep as mementos.

Event organisers also acknowledged the generous support of local sponsors, including Mark Blyth Fine Jewellery, Lower King Store, Bakers Junction Food & Fuel, Oyster Harbour Landscape Supplies and Motel Le Grande, whose contributions helped provide prizes for the event.

Despite the festival cancellation, the smaller community gathering demonstrated the resilience, generosity and strong community spirit that continue to make the Pumpkin Festival such a valued local tradition.

JUNIOR

3rd PLACE - 64.8kg – Thea Chant

2nd PLACE - 82kg – Lucy Lockhart

1st PLACE - 126.4kg – Tanayah Bailey

OPEN

3rd PLACE - 317kg – Trevor Hannig

2nd PLACE - 406kg – Amarah Freemantle

1st PLACE -408kg – Kelsey Freemantle

Novelty Prizes

1st Pumpkin Registered – Shaye DeJager

Best Post Weigh in Picture –Boys Toby & Ben Macdonald

Best Pumpkin Display – Kelsey Freemantle