Family upholds annual pumpkin roll tradition through a Thanksgiving storm

THE HEAVY WEATHER IS JUST ALL PART OF THE HOLIDAY ATMOSPHERE. NEITHER RAIN NOR SLEET, NOR SNOW. HERE WE GO. WILL STOP THE DRY POULTRY FAMILY THANKSGIVING PUMPKIN ROLL IN CONCORD. IT’S A HOLIDAY RITUAL THAT STARTED IN 2009. BECOMING SUCH A CRUCIAL COMPONENT OF TURKEY DAY THAT NO ONE HERE WOULD THINK OF CALLING IT OFF DUE TO WEATHER. WE HAVE FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS THAT COME OVER AND PEOPLE DONATE PUMPKINS TO US WHEN THEY’RE DONE WITH THEM. FOR HALLOWEEN AND I THINK THAT EVEN THE PEOPLE, THE NEIGHBORS NEXT DOOR LIKE TO LOOK DOWN AND SEE ALL THE PUMPKINS. THIS TRADITION IS ALL ABOUT FUN, BUT EVERYONE HERE ALSO WANTS TO WIN. LONGTIME ROLLERS SAY CHOOSING THE BEST GOURD IS BOTH AN ART AND A SCIENCE. IT’S REALLY ALL ABOUT THE PUMPKIN. BUT. BUT YOU SAY THAT WHEN YOU. WHEN YOU LOSE. BUT WHEN YOU WIN, IT’S ABOUT THE PERSON AND THE SKILL. THE OUTCOME OF THIS HOLIDAY COMPETITION IS HIGHLY WEATHER DEPENDENT IN COLDER YEARS, THE GROUND IS FROZEN. PUMPKINS CAN MAKE IT ALL THE WAY INTO THE WOODS AND BEYOND. THIS YEAR WE HAD FREEZING RAIN, BUT IT’S PRETTY SOGGY THIS GRASS IS WET. THE WINNING PUMPKIN BY A STEM MADE IT OUT OF THE IMMEDIATE BACKYARD. GOT THIS. KATIE DAVIS OF BOXBOROUGH, MASS MADE THE WINNING ROLL THIS YEAR, EVEN THOUGH IT DIDN’T BREAK ANY DISTANCE RECORDS. IN THIS WEATHER, A WIN IS A WIN. HOW DID YOU DO IT? YES, WELL, I’VE BEEN TRAINING FOR SEVERAL MONTHS. THEY’LL ALL BE BACK TO ROLL AGAIN AND GIVE THANKS NEXT