Newtown Juggling & Circus Arts Club as well as students and faculty from Lathrop School of Dance will perform at the Fifth Annual Newtown Lions Great Pumpkin Race this Saturday, October 18, from 10 am to 2 pm, behind Edmond Town Hall, 45 Main Street.

The Lathrop dancers will be demonstrating zumba and inviting audience participation.

First on the agenda, however, will be the decorating contest. The Lions Club is urging participants to use their ingenuity in creating pumpkins, which can be large or small,  that are scary, funny or very beautiful.  They will be judged in age categories: 8 and under, 9-12 and 13-18. Prizes will be awarded in each category. 

When the decorating contest concludes the pumpkins races will begin. They  will be broken down in the same age groupings as the decorating contests, with an addition of an over 18 category.

How you design your racer and its size is up to the designer. There are two rules: axles must go through the pumpkins, and pumpkins  cannot be placed on skates or skateboards.

For those who have trouble designing a racer, a limited supply of racers created by Lions Club members will be available for purchase for $15.

Entry in either contest is $5. Attendees are welcome to enter either or both.

In addition to the Newtown Juggling & Circus Arts Club members and Lathrop School of Dance entertainers, there will be plenty of other activities.  A medieval style trebuchet designed by Middle School Industrial Arts teacher Don Ramsey and parent Mark Machaud will be occasionally fired off, sending pumpkins through the air into the wooded area behind the town hall.

In addition visitors can participate in a pumpkin ring toss or try their hand knocking down pins while pumpkin bowling. Bobbing for apples will also be available.

Back by popular demand is a treasure chest sponsored by Newtown Savings Bank. Secreted in bales of hay children will find special prizes.

Lions Club member Bob Schmidt will be serving as emcee for the event.

Guests will also find a number of community groups with displays set up, among them Newtown Youth & Family Services, Cub Scout Pack 270, Freedom Guide Dogs and Newtown Strong Therapy Dogs, and Mackenzie Page, who will have information about her upcoming Great Pumpkin Challenge.

In addition, The Town and Country Garden Club will have autumnal arrangements made by members, which will be available for purchase. All proceeds will be donated to Lions' charities.

For those whose stomach starts growling while watching the races or attending the many activities, Blue Jay Orchards will provide free cider and doughnuts, while the Knights of Columbus will be offering many good lunch items. Ferris Acres Creamery will also be providing treats. 

Also on Saturday, the Lions will conclude their annual Mustang Car Raffle. Final tickets — if available —  will be sold for $10 each, and the winning ticket will be drawn at 1 pm.

For additional information concerning The Great Pumpkin Races, call Gordon Williams at 203-405-6392.