For more than a decade, W.D. Matthews Machinery Company has helped support one of Maine’s most memorable fall traditions: the Damariscotta Pumpkinfest & Regatta in Maine.
Every October, pumpkin growers bring their giant gourds to Damariscotta, Maine, hoping to take home bragging rights at the annual weigh-offs. Some pumpkins weigh more than 1,000 pounds, making the right equipment an important part of the action. W.D. Matthews lends a Manitou MT 625 H telehandler to help move the pallets and giant pumpkins during the weigh-off events.
A Little Machine with a Big Job
The Manitou MT 625 H is a compact telehandler designed to handle materials in spaces where maneuverability matters. Its telescopic boom helps operators position loads, while its compact footprint makes it useful for working in tighter areas.
With a rated lifting capacity of up to 5,512 pounds and a maximum lift height of 19 feet 2 inches, the MT 625 H is built to handle a variety of material-moving tasks. At Pumpkinfest, it helps move the giant pumpkins safely and efficiently as growers bring their entries to the scale.
It’s a great example of how telehandlers support more than construction sites. From moving materials around a busy job site to helping organize a community event, the right equipment can make a big difference.
From Giant Pumpkins to Boats on the Bay
The fun doesn’t end when the numbers come in at the scale. After the weigh-offs, some of the giant pumpkins are hollowed out, carved, and transformed into artistic boats. Those creations eventually take to the water for the festival’s famous Pumpkinboat Regatta, where competitors climb inside their oversized gourds and race across the river.
It’s an unusual journey from the weigh-off scale to the water, and it takes a community of growers, volunteers, artists, and local businesses to make it happen.
Proud to Keep Lifting New England
Damariscotta Pumpkinfest & Regatta is a reminder that equipment plays a role in bringing communities together, often in ways people might not expect. W.D. Matthews Machinery Co. is proud to provide machinery that helps make this long-running Maine tradition possible.
From lifting thousand-pound pumpkins to supporting the people and events that make New England special, we’re proud to keep lifting New England.
Learn more about our Community: Damariscotta Pumpkinfest & Regatta
