Are you all about fall time? Is pumpkin carving too predictable for you at this point? If you're looking to inject your autumnal celebrations with a serious shot of pumpkin spice steroids, then it's about time you move to Tualatin, Oregon because this town knows how to do fall the right way.
In what has to be the most hardcore Halloween celebration since actual pagans ran things, Tualatin doesn't just carve pumpkins -- the town races them. As in, they carve out giant gourds, settle into them and take to the town's lake to race their makeshift boats.
In case you still aren't sold on the autumnal magic of this event, the racers also rock their best Halloween costumes during it. There's something truly special about watching Captain America, a bumble bee and a giant duck race to the finish line in a cutthroat pumpkin regatta.
The annual event, which just celebrated its 14th year this past Saturday, has gotten so popular that four races are held throughout the day. The first heat pits the growers behind the giant gourds against each other. Heat two lets event sponsors take a spin. The third heat doubles as a fundraiser for the Tualatin Police Department Foundation and features firemen and policemen racing. Finally, the fourth heat is reserved for anyone else who entered the race lottery.
This year's race didn't have the best weather, but that didn't deter paddlers. They raced through the rain and it looked like they still managed to have fun with it.
Suddenly, I feel like that jack-o-lantern I carved the other weekend is a pathetic attempt at fall festivities.