Pumpkin roll

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The Chagrin Falls's Pumpkin Roll is a tradition that has occurred in the village of Chagrin Falls, Ohio, since the 1970s.

1 History
2 Coverage
3 See also
4 External links
- 4.1 Sources

[edit] History

The "Pumpkin Roll" began as a class prank undertaken by the Chagrin Falls High School class of 1969. The students took 69 pumpkins and rolled them down Grove Hill (part of Main Street in Chagrin Falls). The two conductors of this prank were Steve and Allen Leach. Little did they know that their class prank would become a tradition. Their younger brother, Richard, began the movement. Kids from the class 1970 and 1971 collected pumpkins, and then proceeded to dump them out of the back of their car and watch them roll down the steep hill.

These students started a tradition that has been carried for over 30 years since. According to the de facto rules of the event, it is planned largely by the senior class of Chagrin Falls High School, with help from the juniors. No other students are allowed to participate. As a result, the Pumpkin Roll has become a sort of bonding event for the junior and senior classes. The event has evolved over time: It started off as a "dump and run" operation, but now students bring sleds and recycling bins and even baby pools. They smash open the pumpkins and slide down the hill. Police try and stop it every year, but to little effect. For the most part, it has usually ended with some, often minor, injuries to some of the participants.

As of late the Roll has mantained a strong connection with underage drinking. A large party beforehand is usually held at a senior or juniors barn where all the pumpkins are collected before charging the hill.

[edit] Coverage

Every year, footage from the event airs on Cleveland's local news stations. Footage from the 2004 Pumpkin Roll shot by former student Ryan Luby appeared on ESPN as number eight on the “Not Top 10 Plays of the Week”. This drew national attention towards Chagrin Falls, which is a small village with a population of roughly 4,000.