A unique event in Belgium is the pumpkin regatta in Kasterlee (Antwerp), which is a kayaking competition held inside giant hollowed-out pumpkins. "Every year we begin with little pumpkins, and each year we harvest the seeds from the larger pumpkins and combine them to create ever-larger pumpkins."

Belgian town hosts its annual Pumpkin Boat Race

<p>In a truly unique and fun event in the Belgium town of Kasterlee in Antwerp, people paddled in pumpkin boats dressed as pirates, animals and vegetables. The annual competition of the pumpkin boat race is known as the pumpkin regatta. People compete with each other in kayaking in their large hollowed-out pumpkin boats.</p>

<p>"Every year we start small pumpkins and every year we get from the bigger pumpkins the seeds and mix them to make every year bigger and bigger pumpkins. This year we have pumpkins of more than 1000 kilos," explains Gert Peeters, the organiser and pumpkin patch owner.</p>

<p>Watch&nbsp;|&nbsp;<strong>Belgian town hosts its annual Pumpkin Boat Race</strong></p>

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<h2><strong>Pumpkin regatta: Unique Belgian boat race&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>The race in Kasterlee started in 2008 after local growers decided they needed to find a different use for their 400-plus kg (880-pound) pumpkins besides turning them into soup. It then grew&nbsp;in popularity, said local Pumpkin Society chairman Paul Boonen.</p>

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<p>Racing in a hollowed-out pumpkin is no joke, and takes some skill. &nbsp;As per a local competitor, when you try to paddle, the pumpkin doesn’t move forward but starts spinning. Also, the pumpkin in which the kayaker is sitting is quite sticky and oily, which requires patience. The annual race is conducted every year in the month of October.</p>

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<p>A similar kind of water race is held in Canada, called the Windsor Pumpkin Regatta. It is held on Lake Pesaquid in Windsor, Nova Scotia. It was founded in 1999 by Danny Dill, son of Howard Dill, breeder of the Atlantic Giant pumpkin.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Another pumpkin regatta famous in the United States is held at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and on Lake Champlain in Vermont.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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In a truly unique and fun event in the Belgium town of Kasterlee in Antwerp, people paddled in pumpkin boats dressed as pirates, animals and vegetables. The annual competition of the pumpkin boat race is known as the pumpkin regatta.

In a truly unique and fun event in the Belgium town of Kasterlee in Antwerp, people paddled in pumpkin boats dressed as pirates, animals and vegetables. The annual competition of the pumpkin boat race is known as the pumpkin regatta. People compete with each other in kayaking in their large hollowed-out pumpkin boats. "Every year we start small pumpkins and every year we get from the bigger pumpkins the seeds and mix them to make every year bigger and bigger pumpkins. This year we have pumpkins of more than 1000 kilos," explains Gert Peeters, the organiser and pumpkin patch owner. Watch | Belgian town hosts its annual Pumpkin Boat Race × Pumpkin regatta: Unique Belgian boat race The race in Kasterlee started in 2008 after local growers decided they needed to find a different use for their 400-plus kg (880-pound) pumpkins besides turning them into soup. It then grew in popularity, said local Pumpkin Society chairman Paul Boonen. Also Read | Possible hate crime in Minneapolis as car drives through pro-Palestine rally Racing in a hollowed-out pumpkin is no joke, and takes some skill. As per a local competitor, when you try to paddle, the pumpkin doesn’t move forward but starts spinning. Also, the pumpkin in which the kayaker is sitting is quite sticky and oily, which requires patience. The annual race is conducted every year in the month of October. Also Read | Will Wikipedia become 'Di**ipedia'? Elon Musk offers $1 billion for NSFW name change A similar kind of water race is held in Canada, called the Windsor Pumpkin Regatta. It is held on Lake Pesaquid in Windsor, Nova Scotia. It was founded in 1999 by Danny Dill, son of Howard Dill, breeder of the Atlantic Giant pumpkin. Another pumpkin regatta famous in the United States is held at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and on Lake Champlain in Vermont. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Row, row, row your boat...sorry, pumpkin! See this Belgian town's annual pumpkin race

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Belgian town hosts its annual Pumpkin Boat Race

Row, row, row your boat...sorry, pumpkin! See this Belgian town's annual pumpkin race