Saturday January 21 2023 at Stratheden Street, Kyogle

Kyogle Tidy Towns Committee

Not long to go now until the fantastic, fun-filled Summerland Giant Pumpkin and Watermelon Festival.

Spread the word to family and friends over Christmas. It’s going to be an action-packed day to enjoy for the whole family. Displays of giant pumpkins, watermelons and various other gigantic vegetables.

The painting prize and craft entries will be going in the old supermarket windows on January 2. Ready for judging. The calibre of entries will astound you. Kyogle has an amazing array of talented artists and makers. 

There will be lots to keep the family entertained from classic cars and bikes displays, competitions with cash prizes such as watermelon eating, cooking, gumboot throwing. Prizes for the home gardeners growing amazing vegetables. Loads of give aways and of course the garden guru, Phil Dudman will be there.

The eateries around town will be creating signature dishes for their menus from watermelon and pumpkin to delight your taste buds throughout December and January.

The wonderful heritage train will be back again, for train rides over the weekend. There will be music in the street, farmer’s market and craft stalls, plenty of food and refreshments. Fun for all.

We would like to thank Kyogle Council for their support and encouragement of the Kyogle Tidy Towns Committee and the Pumpkin and Watermelon Growers for being the major sponsor of the Summerland Giant Pumpkin & Watermelon Festival again in 2023.

We extend our thanks to all our sponsors, as they believe, like us, that we live and work in the best place in the world.

Have a wonderful Christmas and see you at the festival! 

From 8am, Saturday January 21 2023
– Stratheden Street, Kyogle

Festival background

This event commenced in 2012, its goal was to encourage families to grow their own vegetables and encourage farmers to show off their skills as vegetable growers. The first event attracted over 200 entries, people became interested in growing large vegetables.

The heaviest pumpkin that year was 67kg.

Four years later Dale Oliver produced the prize winning pumpkin which weighed 743kgs, an Australasian record.

In 2022 Dale Oliver again won setting a record for the heaviest Pumpkin in the Southern Hemisphere Record of 867kgs.

This record was beaten 6 months later by a South African Grower by just 500 grams.

In 2017 and 2018 the competition moved to Lismore Showground, but failed to attract the anticipated number of spectators.

In 2019 the competition returned to Kyogle where it had commenced in 2012.

2020 saw the amalgamation of the Pumpkin and Watermelon Committee with Kyogle Tidy Towns. The joining of these two groups has brought new life to the festival.

The Kyogle Tidy Towns Committee strive each year to grow the festival to showcase all that is wonderful in the Kyogle LGA. From our vibrate CBD and shopping precincts to our beautiful & productive surrounding farmlands and the natural wonders of our World Heritage rainforests.

Once again the weather has been against the growers, however the committee have been assured that there will be some giant pumpkins and watermelons.

Will a new record be set in 2023?

2023 Program

The 2023 program will include:

Still Life Painting Prize for adults, high school students and younger children with prize money in excess of $1200.00

The Craft Prize with $500 for the winners of each section. Soft crafts items made of fabric, fibres, woven, knitted, sewn or crocheted items. Hard crafts items made from wood, metal, glass etc. Over $1700.00 in prize money.

The Motor Rail Society train rides return to take passengers on a journey through the Border Loop.

2023 sees the introduction of the Taste of Kyogle with eateries in Kyogle adding a signature dish (using pumpkin or watermelon) of their creation to their menu throughout December and January.

On Saturday January 21 there will be:

• local Service Clubs supplying hot and cold food;
• Kyogle Country Music Association will again provide the music;
• Farmers Market and Craft Market;
• Watermelon Eating Competition;
• Open Cooking Competition;
• Business Premise Dress-up;
• Competitions for the Home Gardeners with kids and adults sections;
• Classic Cars and Motorbike Display; and
• Gumboot throwing.

Sponsors

This Festival would not be possible without the contribution of our sponsors:

Major/Gold Sponsor

• Kyogle Council

Silver Sponsors

• PRD Kyogle
• Kooks Harvesting
• Raine & Horne Kyogle
• MJ Smith Woodenbong
• Dave’s Bakehouse Kyogle
• Harley & Co Kyogle and
• Royston Petrie Seeds

Sponsors

• Kings Bakery, Casino
• Swan Bay Butchers, Kyogle
• Peters Food Hall, Kyogle
• North Coast Firearms, Casino
• Kyogle Post Office
• KOOKS Fabrication, Kyogle
• KOOKS Baling, Kyogle
• Kyogle Motorcycles
• Ray White, Kyogle
• Tyres & More, Kyogle
• Wiangaree Shop
• East Coast Citrus, Knockrow
• Scarborough’s Shoes, Kyogle
• Anderson’s Automotive & Air Conditioning,-Kyogle
• KT Tattoos, Kyogle
• Kyogle Real Estate; and
• Commercial Hotel (Top Pub), Kyogle.