“Lord Gobbler” gobbles up the Pumpkin Racer trophy

On Saturday, Oct. 4, pumpkins and people galore once again poured into the North Creek Community Center parking lot to participate in the area’s most innovative fall festival – Montgomery Village’s The Great Pumpkin Race and Fall Festival. Colorful decorations, tense racing action, family fun and laughter, community camaraderie and pumpkin-themed everything, set to the tunes of local band, The Tolerators, formed the backdrop for this annual event now in its 16^th year. Families gathered with pumpkin racers in hand to enjoy the festivities and try their luck at racing away with the coveted Pumpkin Racer Trophy.

Before the races started and after, festival goers had an opportunity to chat with and enjoy the offerings of local businesses, visit with the sweet animals in the petting zoo, play carnival games, ride the fun rides, taste some delicious festival food, and participate in pumpkin-themed crafts, face painting and balloon artistry. The test track and racer garage were busy in a flurry of activity as some racers tried to gain the competitive edge with a quick tune-up – or at least figure out how to roll straight enough to cross the finish line!

After welcoming remarks by MVF Board President Doniele Ayres at the start of the races, a full field of racers clamored for position in the VIP exhibition races that proceeded the main resident races. This year there were two VIP heats. Heat #1 featured Councilmember Dawn Luedtke; Councilmembers Sidney Katz, Evan Glass and Andrew Friedson; Senator Nancy King; Delegate Greg Wims; and MVF Board President Doniele Ayres. Heat #2 featured  MVF Executive Vice President Mike Conroy; MVF Board Member Dan Anderson; MVF Board Member Brandon Coffee-Borden; Montgomery County Police Department (MCPD) 6^th District; and SERVPRO of Gaithersburg/Germantown.

Heat #1’s winner was Senator Nancy King’s “Kindness Giraffe,” and Heat #2’s winner was MCPD’s “Beedoo.” In the run-off between Heat #1 and Heat #2, the MCPD’s pumpkin racer was faster, but it, unfortunately, veered off and hit a hay bale; Nancy King’s racer slowly crossed the finish line after that. Nancy King’s “Kindness Giraffe” also won the “Best Animal Look-A-Like” medal in the Decorated Pumpkin Awards. Although not racing this year, we thank these VIPs for joining in the festivities: MCPD Sherriff Maxwell Uy, MCPD Community Services Officer Melanie Romano, MCPD Officers JJ King and O’Neil Ormsby, and MCPD 6^th District Lieutenants Rod Cox and Mark Hayden.

Following the VIP races, resident racers lined up for elimination heat after heat for the next hour-plus, pitting siblings, friends, neighbors and strangers against each other. Amid a plethora of richly decorated, rule-abiding pumpkins lurked a half dozen or so pumpkin cheaters, that, once identified, were at the mercy of the crowd and the referee. It didn’t take much crowd convincing to have those pumpkins that bent the rules eliminated from competition via the referee's mallet. Several chants of “Smash it! Smash it!” were heard before the final thud of the mallet sent pumpkin seeds flying across the racetrack to loud cheers from the crowd.

The final heat was a showdown of the three winners of all previous heats – Callie Lewis’ “Lord Gobbler,” Dale Browne’s “Taco Racer” and Ellie Mahlmann’s “Ellie’s Pearl.” Before a nearly silent crowd holding their breath, these finalists each took their place at the starting line. At the sound of “Go,” they took off for the finish line with a clean, no bumping, crashing or pushing heat that was accompanied by cheers from the crowd. Although all three racers had bested the large field of competitors, it was “Lord Gobbler” that dashed across the finish line first. “Ellie’s Pearl” came in a close second, with “Taco Racer” nipping at “Ellie’s Pearl’s” tail. Callie Lewis’ “Lord Gobbler” also received the “Scariest” medal in the Decorated Pumpkin Awards.

For the rest of the festival, though, hundreds of residents and community neighbors enjoyed the rides, games and food. It was clear from the number of test runs, pumpkin garage visits and cleverly decorated pumpkins, that competition for this year’s medals and trophy was going to be stiff. There were 108 pumpkins entering the race this year, including several VIP racers and even business vendor participation!

Here are the medal winners in the Decorated Pumpkin Awards for 2025:

• Best Decorated: “Max Verpumpkin” by Henry Schobert
• Most Innovative Design: “Caramel Apple” by Stella Hlebowski
• Most Disguised: “Zombies Hold the Wheel” by Brixton Webster
• Scariest: “Lord Gobbler” by Callie Lewis
• Prettiest: “Spooky Garden” by Emilia Webster
• Best Animal Look-A-Like: “Kindness Giraffe” by Senator Nancy King
• Best Cartoon Character: “Kool Aid Man” by Alexis Loza
• Best Themed Racer Duo: “Elphaba’s Cauldron” by Leilani Valdez
• Biggest Cheater: “I’m a Pumpkin…No…I’m Really a Pumpkin” by Joe Browne
• #1 Judge’s Pick: “Transformer’s Grill” by JR Valdez
• #2 Judge’s Pick: “P2-D2” by Nathaniel Hlebowski
• #3 Judge’s Pick: “Taco Racer” by Dale Browne
• #4 Judge’s Pick: “Le Burger” by Isaac Muldowney
• #5 Judge’s Pick: “Tony Turbo Tricycle” by Ben, Bear and Tony Plettenberg  

MVF would like to thank our generous local businesses and vendors in the event, including:

• Chick-Fil-A Gaithersburg
• D & D Pony Rides
• D’s Smokehouse BBQ
• Fantasy World Entertainment
• Frederick Keys
• Georgetown Hill Early School
• Jason Levinson & Co.: Face Painter and Balloon Artist
• Kona Ice
• Mathnasium of Gaithersburg
• Montgomery Village Animal Hospital
• Mully’s Brewery
• Nymeo Federal Credit Union
• Plan B Sausages
• Renewal by Andersen
• Roy Rogers Restaurants
• SERVPRO of Gaithersburg/Germantown
• The Crêpê Shoppe
• Travelin’ Tom’s Coffee
• Trippy Tacos

Next year’s The Great Pumpkin Race and Fall Festival is sure to bring even more competition and excitement – keep your wheels, or find new ones, and start planning your racer now! The 2026 Great Pumpkin Race and Fall Festival is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 3 – see you then!