What fall sport do you participate in? Is it football? soccer? Or are you just warming up for basketball?

For the past four years the Newtown Lions Club has offered a different sort of fall sport: pumpkin racing. All that is needed to participate is to create a pumpkin racer with two axels, attached through the pumpkin. Size and shape do not matter.

Then you must bring your wonders to the Great Pumpkin Race, which will return to the rear lot of Edmond Town Hall on Saturday, October 18, between 10 am and 2 pm. Races will be arranged by age category, including one for ages 18 and older. There will be heats and run offs.

Participants are encouraged to make their own racers. (If that task poses a problem, racers made by local Lions are available for $15.) Prizes will be awarded to the winners in all events, with a giant run off at the end.

In addition to all of the pumpkin racing, there is much more to do on this festive day. Preceding the pumpkin races a decoration contest will be held. Prizes will be given for Funniest Pumpkin, Scariest Pumpkin and Best Decorated Pumpkin. These pumpkins will be judged in one of three age categories: ages 8 and under, 9-12, and 13-18.

There is a $5 charge for each event entered. Guests are welcome to decorate a pumpkin and enter it into the races.

There will be a number of other fun activities such as a pumpkin bowling contest, bobbing for apples, and a treasure hunt in bales of hay. The latter event, sponsored by Newtown Saving Bank, proved very popular last year.

Refreshments will also be plentiful, including free cider and doughnuts from Blue Jay Orchards. Community groups will also be on hand, offering additional games and promoting their activities.

Returning once gain will be the medieval-style trebuchet made by Newtown Middle School industrial arts teacher Don Ramsey and his classes with help from Mark Machaud. Instead of firing large stones and boulders as our medieval ancestors did, this machine has fired pumpkins.

Finally, for last-minute tickets for the Annual Newtown Lions Classic Mustang raffle, this will be the time to pick them up. The winning ticket will be picked that afternoon.

This year’s classic is a 1968 Ford Mustang convertible, dark blue body, dark interior, 289 V8, automatic transmission, power steering, power brakes, power top and in beautiful condition. Tickets are $10 each, all proceeds benefit Lions charities, and the drawing will be at 1 pm October 18.

For additional information contact Gordon Williams, 203-405-6392.