"You have hundreds of pumpkins rolling down the hill. You can feel the ground (shake) and hear them," said Rhonda Stoltzfus, when describing the Great Pumpkin Avalanche, which will be featured during the 21st Pumpkin Olympics on Saturday, Nov. 13, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Glen Run Valley View Farm in Atglen. The event is presented by Rhonda and her husband, Jeff, the farm's owners.

According to Rhonda, the Pumpkin Olympics is a way to use leftover pumpkins and to raise funds for local organizations as well. Proceeds from the event will be donated to various nonprofits, including the Parkesburg POINT youth center, led by Dwayne Walton, executive director; PCCO (Parkesburg Churches Community Outreach); and Maple Grove Mennonite Church, which will use the funds for its mission project.

Youth volunteers who will work at the event include the Maple Grove Mennonite Church youth group, Parkesburg Baptist Church youth group, ninth-grade class from Linville Hill Christian School, Octorara FFA and Hans Herr FFA from Lancaster Mennonite High School.

"They are helping to run the 25 different stations where (people) can play a game of some kind with pumpkins - throw a pumpkin, roll a pumpkin or bowl with a pumpkin," Rhonda said, noting games will be offered during the entire event. "The games are for all ages," she added.

The Octorara Football Boosters and Octorara Softball Boosters will provide hot food options and beverages for sale, and Maple Grove Mennonite Church will provide baked goods and desserts.

There will be a pumpkin pie eating contest at 12:30 p.m., followed by a pumpkin carving demonstration at 1 p.m.

A pumpkin chunkers' meet-and-greet will be held at 1 p.m. featuring Tom and Jody Bush from the Smokin Lamas pumpkin chucking team, who will demonstrate their catapult-style throwing machines that can send pumpkins flying through the air.

The Giant Pumpkin Drop and the Great Pumpkin Avalanche and Smash Fest will begin at 3:15 p.m. A giant pumpkin weighing 708 pounds, which has been grown and donated by Ken Redcay, will be dropped on a car provided by Null's Towing of Cochranville. "They will also drop the pumpkin with their crane truck," Rhonda noted.

During the Great Pumpkin Avalanche, truckloads of pumpkins will be dumped in a great wave, crashing downhill to shatter and break into pieces. After the avalanche, attendees will be able to join in the "smashfest" by stomping on, throwing or smashing pumpkins that did not break or spilt apart during their fall. The pieces will be fed to the farm's cattle. "We have black Angus cows, and they will eat them all up," Rhonda said.

Glen Run Valley View Farm is located at 280 Lenover Road, Atglen. For more information about the Pumpkin Olympics, visit http://www.facebook.com/GlenRunValleyViewFarm, call 610-593-5656 or email glenrunvv@gmail.com.