Costumed Racers Paddle Giant Pumpkins Across Oregon Lake

Paddlers in elaborate costumes raced hollowed-out pumpkins across a Tualatin lake Sunday during the 2025 West Coast Giant Pumpkin Regatta. Parker Johnson, dressed as the Very Hungry Caterpillar, won the costume contest. “I was just chatting with my family in the car. Like, just brainstorming things to do. And my dad thought up the idea of a caterpillar eating its way up out of the pumpkin,” Johnson told KOIN-TV. Event coordinator Heidi Marx explained the appeal: “It’s kind of a ridiculous idea, which is why it’s so popular. How often can you say that you’ve watched people in costumes paddling thousand-pound pumpkins on a lake?” The quarter-mile race featured multiple heats for growers, sponsors, officials and the public. Gary Kristensen won his heat dressed as Buddy the Elf. Other winners included racers costumed as Ted Lasso, a Top Gun pilot and a pickle. (Story URL)

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