Season's spirit

Season's spirit

Tradition continues with Phillipston's Fall Festival, Great Pumpkin Weigh-in

Doneen Durling
News Staff Writer

PHILLIPSTON — The town’s annual Fall Pumpkin Festival and Giant Pumpkin Weigh-in — the latter being the oldest event of its kind in New England — began with a few pumpkins and lots of hometown feeling on Saturday as people set up their baked goods, quilts and other handmade items on the Common.

Scarecrow building, cupcake decorating and pumpkin whoopee pies were available for all to enjoy. Pumpkins were weighed and judged in the drizzle, and most agreed that 2013 was not the best year for growing the massive gourds.


“The biggest is going to be a relative number this year,” said the Rev. Stephanie Flynn, pastor of the Phillipston Congregational Church, where the scales were set up and ready to go for the weigh-in. “Nic Coppolino won last year with a huge pumpkin. I think it weighed over 300 pounds, so as you can tell, this was a very difficult year for pumpkins.”

First place in the adult division went to Al Rose of Phillipston’s Red Apple Farm, who entered a pumpkin weighing 39-1/2 pounds. In second place was Jane French of Phillipston with a pumpkin weighing 33-1/2 pounds, while third place went to Nic Coppolino of Oakham, whose entry was 32-1/2 pounds.

The “Luther Award” for the smallest pumpkin — named after the smallest entry in the initial weigh-in more than three decades ago — was given to Dr. Ron Egan of Petersham, who entered a three-pound green pumpkin.

The winner of the children’s division was Cassy Olson — a contestant for quite a few years — whose pumpkin weighed in at 39-1/2 pounds. 

Alex Olson, who has participated in the event for five years, had a pumpkin weighing in at 39 pounds. Madison Coppolino, in her third year in the contest, had the tallest pumpkin, which weighed in at 35-1/2 pounds.

Evelyn Olson’s pumpkin was 31 pounds.

Sam Coppolino, who is a longtime entrant, had a pumpkin weighing in at 25 pounds.

Six-month-old Felix Ferris continued a tradition started by his aunt and grandmother with his first ever pumpkin, which weighed in at five pounds. Felix planted the seed with the help of his grandmother and mother. 

Aside from the weigh-in, the pumpkin fair also featured a quilt raffle hosted by the Ladies Benevolent Society and a range of activities.