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SOHAM PUMPKIN FAIR

Chairman: Mr Mark Williams
E-Mail:
Official Website: www.sohampumpkinfair.co.uk

Overview

Soham Pumpkin Fair is an annual event, open to all comers. Held every September in the Autumnal setting of the recreation ground, it is a festival of size, and the measure of a gardener’s skill and patience. With a variety of classes for pumpkins, sunflowers and outsize vegetables, there are prizes for all, including special sections for junior members of the community. It has become a local tradition to issue every child in the town with a pumpkin and sunflower seed to grow especially for the pumpkin fair - some succeed in amazing fashion. Soham Pumpkin Fair offers a range of traditional stalls and children's amusements. Exhibits are on show throughout.

Saturday 29th September 2012

Soham Pumpkin Fair
38th Soham Pumpkin Fair 2012

In Association with BBC Radio Cambridgeshire

Pumpkin Fair Theme - To Be Announced
The Recreation Ground, Fountain Lane, Soham
Show opens at 1.30pm and closes at 5.00pm
Performances by Soham Fenlander Majorette Troupe
Performances by St. Andrew’s & The Weatheralls Primary School Pupils
There will be a Funfair along with a wide range of Stalls & Car Boot Sales, Vintage Cars, Tractors & Bygones
A Special visit from Mr Pumpkin (better known as Mark Williams, Chairman of the Pumpkin Fair)
Admission is £2.00 for Adults, £1 for Senior Citizens & Children Over 12, Children Under 12 Go Free

Group Entries
Entries for the various vegetable and growing competitions need to be at the Recreation Ground between 9.30am and 11.30am
These are to be accompanied by a completed Entry Form.
The fair itself opens at 1.30pm

ALL ENTRIES to be clearly LABELLED with GROUP NUMBER, OWNER’S NAME, ADDRESS and TELEPHONE NUMBER.
The same information MUST be handed in to the entry desk.
Click the following link to download an Entry Form or via www.sohampumpkinfair.co.uk
(Entry Forms can also be found in the programme out by the end of August 2011)

Beneficiaries: To Be Announced

Outdoor Competitions

Group 1	Male 16+ Soham Residents
Group 2	Female 16+ Soham Residents
Group 3	Soham Village College (Mixed)
Group 4	The Weatheralls County Primary School (Mixed) Ages 3-5 inclusive
Group 5	The Weatheralls County Primary School (Mixed) Ages 6-11 inclusive
Group 6	St Andrew's C of E Primary School (Mixed) Ages 3-5 inclusive
Group 7	St Andrew's C of E School (Mixed) Ages 6-11 inclusive
Group 8	Soham Children Attending Schools Outside Soham (Under 16's)
Group 9	Soham Pre-Schools (Mixed)
Group 10	Heaviest Pumpkin grown by 2nd Soham Scout
Group 11a	Heaviest Pumpkin grown by non-resident of Soham (Child)
Group 11b	Heaviest Pumpkin grown by non-resident of Soham (Adult)
Group 12	Heaviest Pumpkin grown in East Anglia
Group 13	Biggest Sunflower Head grown by a Child (Under 8's)
Group 14	Biggest Sunflower Head grown by a Child (Ages 8-16)
Group 15	Biggest Sunflower Head grown by an Adult
Group 16	Tallest Sunflower grown by a Child (Under 8's)
Group 17	Tallest Sunflower grown by a Child (Ages 8-16)
Group 18	Tallest Sunflower grown by Adult
Group 19	Tallest Sunflower grown by Soham Scout
Group 20	A Presentation of Five Fresh Vegetables (1 of each type)
Group 21	Heaviest Marrow grown by a a Child
Group 22	Heaviest Marrow grown by an Adult
Group 23	Heaviest Mangel
Group 24	Heaviest Tomato
Group 25	Longest Runner Bean grown by a Child
Group 26	Longest Runner Bean grown by an Adult
Group 27	Heaviest Onion
Group 28	Heaviest Sugar Beet

Indoor Competitions

All indoor competition entries are to be based on the theme: ’Canine Heroes ’ (EXCEPT Groups P,Q and U)

Group A	Scouts
Group B	Cubs
Group C	Beavers
Group D	Boys Brigade Anchor (Age 5-8)
Group E	Boys Brigade Junior (Age 8-11)
Group F	Guides
Group G	Brownies
Group H	Rainbows
Group I	Decorated Victoria Sponge (Under 7's)
Group J	Decorated Victoria Sponge (7-11)
Group K	Decorated Victoria Sponge (12-16)
Group L	Decorated Victoria Sponge (Adults)
Group M	Best Poster
Group N	Poetry (Under 8's) A handwritten poem
Group O	Poetry (Under 12's) A handwritten poem
Group P	Largest Dahlia Head
Group Q	5 Cut flowers (home grown of course!)
Group R	A table floral arrangement
Group S	Farm and Garden Produce Sculpture (Children Only)
Group T	Farm and Garden Produce Sculpture (Adults Only)
Group U	Best Decorated Pumpkin
Group V	Design a front cover for next year’s brochure (must be hand-drawn) Open to under16's

38th Soham Pumpkin Fair 2012

Saturday 29th September 2012 is the date of the 38th Soham Pumpkin Fair 2011. Started in 1975, Soham Pumpkin Fair has raised around £40.000 for local charities. The Fair is the only one of its kind in the whole of East Anglia. Each year the committee donates pumpkin and sunflower seeds to any schools and play schemes in the area, that wish to take part. The 2012 Pumpkin Fair will take place at the Recreation Ground, Fountain Lane in Soham. Entries for the various vegetable and growing competitions need to be at the Recreation Ground between 8.30am and 11.30am. The fair itself opens at 1.30pm.

Mr Mark Williams, Chairperson of The Soham Pumpkin Fair Committee said: "We are looking forward to a bumper fair. Hopefully the weather will be kind to us and the crowds will once again come along to support our worthy causes. We are looking forward to a lot of friendly competition and you never know, we might get a pumpkin that will weigh more than the world record."

Over the years the Soham Pumpkin Fair has attracted large numbers of visitors often with well over 1,000 attending the event. The Fair has also seen a number of record breakers over the years. Last year’s winner weighed in at 111.15kg, the largest grown in Soham was 58.10kg. There are also competitions for sunflowers, (last year’s winner was 4.53m tall) and the heaviest marrow (which weighed in at 11.05kg).

There are also a number of indoor competitions for local Cubs, Brownies, Guides Rainbows, Beavers, Boys Brigade and Scout Groups. Baking and poetry competitions are being held, and this year’s theme will be Canine Heroes.

During this year’s event there will be a number of attractions in the main arena, including The Soham Fenlander Majorettes, and displays by the local Primary Schools, St. Andrew’s and The Weatheralls. A fair will be held on the grounds along with a wide range of stalls. Other attractions this year will include vintage cars and tractors, bygones, and The Earl of Northampton's Regiment of Foote, a regiment of The Sealed Knot society are providing a Living History Display.