The Stillwater Harvest Fest drew a big crowd today. The weather was an awesome 82 degrees with sunny skies. It was one of the nicest fall days I remember here in Minnesota in October. The crowds gathered along the St. Croix River downtown to watch the Pumpkin Regatta – people racing hollowed out giant pumpkins down the river. It was quite a sight. There were four people competing this year with pumpkins ranging from 450 to 1,300 pounds. I overheard someone say that Brine’s Meat Market has won it the last three years, but it wasn’t to be this year. Smalley’s BBQ Grill crossed the finish line first. I didn’t stick around for it this year (have watched it in past years), but at the end of the day is the pumpkin drop – a 1,000+ pound pumpkin that is dropped from 100 feet in the air from a crane.

One of the 1,000 + pound pumpkins at Harvest Fest

The boats on the river had the best view of the pumpkin regatta