Keweenaw CAPE invites all to race in 4th annual pumpkin races fundraiser Saturday
HANCOCK, Mich. (WLUC) - A Keweenaw-based youth organization is preparing to celebrate Halloween with some seasonal races.
The Keweenaw Community Alliance for Progressive Education group will hold its 4th annual Deb Mann Memorial pumpkin races Saturday afternoon in downtown Hancock.
Using geared-up pumpkins with four wheels and decorations you’ve made at home, you’ll race your pumpkin against others on the Quincy Green hillside for prizes. Different heats include child racers, teens, families and businesses, and cheater pumpkins.
“We’ve got first, second and third place,” Keweenaw CAPE Executive Director Susan Nielson said. “And we have a lot of local businesses in Hancock that have donated gift certificates and other kinds of prizes... We also like to inspire creativity. There’s a creative category, so we give out prizes for ‘Most Creative’.”
The race is also a fundraiser. CAPE says optional registration donations will go towards a scholarship fund named after Deb Mann, a longtime Hancock community leader who died in a house explosion in 2022.
“She was a very innovative thinker, community-oriented; we all loved her very much,” Nielson continued. “Our goal is to raise $5,000 so that we can work with a local foundation to begin accepting applications for actually releasing scholarship funds. And the scholarship will be going to a high school senior who has demonstrated community service, community awareness (and) leadership.”
Nielson says that as of Friday, the scholarship has raised around $1,800.
The races begin at noon. CAPE encourages you to arrive early to register on-site and have officials inspect your racer pumpkins. Nielson notes that after the races finish, attendees can enjoy one last event.
“The Hancock City Fire Department is going to come, and we drop a bunch of pumpkins from high up on the very tall ladder,” Nielson added. “It’s also quite entertaining.”
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