In a city renowned for its Halloween celebrations, the UW-Madison’s annual Giant Pumpkin Regatta has emerged as one of the most inspired hoots of the season — albeit one that is not without its haunted hazards. Now marking its fourth year, this contest of the gourds is scheduled to hit Lake Mendota off the Memorial Union Terrace this Saturday, October 4.
Starting at noon, students paddling enormous hollowed-out pumpkins — buoyed by tractor-tire inner-tubes — will face off in a series of races between the piers at the Terrace. The event is organized by UW horticulture professors Jim Nienhuis and Irwin Goldman in cooperation with the Hoofer Sailing Club, a handy group to have around considering what happened during the event’s inaugural year.