Y’all. It is October. October. I’m simultaneously baffled that we’re nearing the end of 2024 and wondering also (shamelessly) hoping time continues to fly as we head into our next – and final – Army PCS year. October is when things start to really slow down here in the Interior. The weather is getting colder, hibernation is beginning, and we’re just waiting for that first round of snow to fly. We’re soaking up the last of the seasonal events though, too, which included the Great Interior Pumpkin Drop + Fly-In, which took place this past weekend. And yes, it was so Alaskan that I can’t even explain it…but I’ll try.
The Great Interior Pumpkin Drop + Fly-In
You’re probably thinking, “What’s a pumpkin drop, and what, exactly, are we flying in?” Because, let me tell you, I had the same questions when I first saw the event pop up on the local event calendar. Things in the Interior aren’t quite as organized as they were in Korea, but we have some very distinctly Alaskan events (like the Tanana Valley State Fair), and the Great Interior Pumpkin Drop + Fly-In is no exception.
So, what is it, you ask? Basically, people pilot their own planes complete with a pumpkin on board and a “bombardier” whose sole responsibility is to open the door in the air to drop a pumpkin and try to hit a target down below. Yes. It’s that simple. It’s a fun annual event in North Pole at Bradley Sky Ranch where people from all over the state actually come up, make a few loops, drop some pumpkins and try to get closest to the target. There were also a couple paragliders this year. When in Alaska, right?
Fall Family Fun Near Fairbanks, Alaska
Coincidentally, there aren’t really any pumpkin patches here around Fairbanks or North Pole, so the pumpkin-related activities tend to be lacking in the weeks and months leading up to Halloween. So, when we saw a pumpkin-themed event, you’d better believe we jumped. Even better? It’s free. All we had to do was drive 20 mins to Bradley Sky Ranch, bring our lawn chairs, and find a good spot for viewing.
The airfield was roped off, but we were still pretty darn close to the actual drop zone, which was neat (and also something that I’m almost 100% certain wouldn’t fly anywhere else in the United States). There were actually a lot of people in attendance, but we had a great spot to view both takeoff and landing, and the kids were in heaven throughout, consistently chanting “Drop it now!” And, surprisingly, it looked like it was hard to time the drops well. The pilots began to realize that they needed to drop earlier than later, and some got pretty close – within 20 ft of the target.
Would We Recommend It?
We won’t be here for next year’s Great Interior Pumpkin Drop + Fly-In, but if we were, I can guarantee we’d go again. It was just barely organized enough to be considered an actual event, but it was also laid back, fun, free, and just one of those things that you wouldn’t quite believe unless you saw it yourself. So, yes. 100%. Go next year!
Location: Bradley Sky Ranch
Cost: Free!
What to Do: There are food trucks, a fire truck for kids to explore, a bounce house, and live music. The event ran from 12-7 PM this year, and within a few hours, we were pooped, but it just kept rolling! The drop didn’t start until about 2:15 PM.