Our Events

BUSHMERE ARMS GIANT PUMPKIN FESTIVAL

Sunday 08 April, 2018

The Bushmere Arms is proud to host the 16th annual Giant Pumpkin Festival in 2018.

This outstanding day raises much needed funds for The Gisborne-East Coast Cancer Society as well as being a wonderful example to the whole family of how growing can be so much fun!

The weigh-in takes place between 10.30am and midday on Sunday 08 April 2018 with final results being announced shortly after 2pm. Activities run between 11am and 1.45pm. There are so many cash prizes to be won and not just for people who have grown a pumpkin - we have many lucky prizes and cash rewards for activities on the day.

The event is held at Bushmere Arms and is a great day for kids to enjoy heaps of activities, fun and prizes. Anyone who has grown a pumpkin can enter it into the judging whatever the size and be eligible for a prize, although the seeds do need to be official seeds and the pumpkin owner needs to own a ticket. There are prizes for all types of pumpkins, not just the biggest so you can still bring it along even if you have a small one! There are also other competitions for the parents to join in, so get along and enjoy the fun.

Activities to enter with a pumpkin you have grown include:

Bushmere Arms Heaviest Pumpkin Senior (1st prize $500, 2nd prize $200)

Judds Holdings Heaviest Pumpkin Junior (1st prize $100, 2nd prize $75, 3rd prize $50, 4th prize $30, 5th prize $25, $6th prize $20)

Bayleys Real Estate Best Sculptured Pumpkin Senior & Junior (Senior 1st $60, 2nd prize $40, Junior 1st $30, 2nd $20)

Pak 'n Save Gisborne Luckiest Pumpkin draw ($200) - weigh-in any pumpkin you have drawn to win this cash prize!

Activities for anyone to enter ($2 entry fee per activity):

Pak'nSave Gisborne Guess the Weight (1st prize $75)

Gisborne I-site Best Pumpkin Recipe (Senior 1st prize $15)

Gisborne District Council Best Pumpkin Recipe (Junior 1st prize $15)

Farmlands Nail Driving (Senior 1st $30, 2nd prize $15, Junior 1st $30, 2nd prize $15)

LeaderBrand Squash Throwing (Senior 1st $30, Intermediate $20, Primary $10)

Hirepool Pumpkin Dig (Senior 1st $15, Intermediate 1st $10, Junior 1st $5)

Heavitree Longest Apple Peel (Senior 1st $15, Junior 1st $5)

Gisborne Farmers Market - Scarecrow Making competion - turn up on the day and make a scarecrow! (1st prize $20, 2nd prize $15, 3rd prize $10)

Parkview Garden Centre Snail Races (1st prize $25, 2nd prize $30, 3rd prize $15)

Newman's Own Pumpkin Petanque (Senior 1st $20, Junior 1st $15)

Gisborne Herald Colouring competition Top six win a prize!

Check out the Gisborne Herald for the official colouring competition entry form publiched on Thursday 29th March 2018 or download it here.

Other activities include:

Horizontal bungy

The Farmlands Spinning Wheel of Prizes

The Gisborne Farmers Market Raffle

The Bushmere Arms Easter Raffle

The Countdown Gisborne Raffle

The Countdown Gisborne Hot Cross Buns

Train Rides

Pony Rides

Food and beverages:

Hospice Tairawhiti sausage sizzle and drinks

Bushmere Arms ice cream stand

Bushmere Arms lunch snacks

Black Kat Coffee

The Bushmere Arms Classic Pumpkin Growing Festival is held annually with proceeds going to Hospice Tairawhiti.

Competition Ages

Junior = Under 12

Senior/adult = 12 years and over

TERMS AND CONDITIONS:

Please see the ticket stub.

IN CASE OF RAIN!

In the case of rain, the Bushmere Arms Giant Pumpkin Festival will be held on Sunday 10 April 2016.