Local libraries kick off Somethin Pumpkin contest
An annual pumpkin decorating contest offers the community a chance to have some fall fun while promoting healthy eating and literacy.
"Somethin Pumpkins" is a collaboration between local libraries, farmers and the Cleveland County Cooperative Extension Office.
Christina Martin, Kings Mountain Mauney Memorial Library director, said they have been working with the Cleveland County Cooperative Extension Office on Somethin Pumpkin.
“A picture book and a chapter book are chosen and patrons can pick up pumpkins and decorate them to look like a literary character in the books,” Martin said. “We have the mayor judge them and pick a winner from each age category and also have a people’s choice award.”
She said the library gets their pumpkins from Maple Springs Lineberger Farms in Dallas to keep it local. The program runs through the month of October.
Martin said people pick up the pumpkins, decorate them at home, and then return them to be displayed in the library until they are judged.
Registration forms and pumpkins are available at the Eugenia H. Young Memorial Library in Shelby, Spangler Branch in Lawndale and Mauney Memorial in Kings Mountain.
The deadline is Oct. 21 for Mauney and Oct. 22 for Spangler and Eugenia H. Young. The winner will be announced Oct. 26. The contest categories are kindergarten through second, third through fifth, family, and teen/adult. There will be a winner in each of the categories and library patrons can vote for “the people’s choice.”
Pumpkins will be handed out while supplies last and people can also purchase their own pumpkin and submit but they must keep the pumpkin under 8 pounds.
Pumpkins cannot be carved.
Pumpkins from the Eugenia H. Young Memorial Library and Spangler Branch will be decorated with themes from the book “Pumpkin Trouble” by Jan Thomas and Mauney Memorial Library will be using themes from the “Llama Llama” series by Anna Dewdney for younger children or “The Incredible Journey” by Sheila Burnford for older.
Nancy Abasiekong, extension agent with the Cleveland County N.C. Cooperative Extension office, said the annual fall event celebrates local foods, healthy eating and family literacy.
She said the pumpkins are paid for by Cleveland County Extension & Community Association and both Mauney Memorial and Eugenia H. Young libraries ordered 40 pumpkins each.
“This is in support of local agriculture and in an effort to encourage families to eat healthy meals,” said Abasiekong.
For more information on the contest or to try new pumpkin recipes or learn fun facts, visit the Somethin Pumpkin website at somethinpumpkin.com.
This article originally appeared on The Shelby Star: Local libraries kick off Somethin Pumpkin contest
