by Kirby Lindsay, posted 19 September 2011
On Saturday and Sunday, September 24th & 25th, at Fremont Oktoberfest, see the gore go flying as the Texas Chainsaw Pumpkin Carving takes the Village stage at 1p, in the public, free area. A sight for all eyes, of all ages, this remains a prime example of why some refer to Fremont as ‘Yes-They-Really-Do-That-There!’
Who are ‘They’? Well, for the sixth year David Roman will organize and handle MC duties for the Village competition. For those there to sample beer, in the ticketed microbrew garden, he will demonstrate his own, considerable skill, on the Verizon Main Stage at 2:30p, and spray pumpkin meat and gore via chainsaw.
Where Texas Don’t Even Enter Into It
The Village show operates as a competition, but Roman quickly clarified that it is not open. “Mostly my friends are involved,” he explained, “due to safety issues.” Carvers practice, and know the rules of the show, before they bring their characters to the stage.
This year Roman also officially took over booking the band that accompanies the pumpkin carving. With pleasure, he announced that the Boys of Greenwood Glen would return for a fourth year. “I don’t know how I could find another band who would play over chainsaws,” Roman noted. Although it can get buried beneath the cacophony, Roman believes live music rejuvenated the event. Before, “after thirty minutes,” he recalled, “the audience would wear out on the noise. Since I’ve had the band, the audience stays the whole time.”
“We couldn’t have any more people watch it,” Roman admitted, as the spectacle draws standing room only crowds. “We’re talking about bleachers,” he stated, to better accommodate the crowds, because the performance content causes a logistical problem. The show can’t be done on a platform stage, he explained, “because of the mess.” The parking lot upon which they stand to carve conveniently doesn’t convert into a dangerously slippery mess when covered in pumpkin goo.
A Proud Tradition Of Texas Chainsaw Pumpkin Carvings
The Texas Chainsaw Pumpkin Carving started in the inspired mind of Jon Hegeman (of the Outdoor Cinema, Sunday Markets and Walking Guide.) From 2000 to 2006, Cirque du Flambé organized the event, and Simon Neale “had a run of winning,” Roman remembered, “most of the time in drag. He was amazing for connecting with audience members.” As Roman recalled, Neale would select an audience member to pose as model for his pumpkin, and create a faithful replica of the person – as long as they looked like his pumpkin.
“I joined when I joined the circus,” Roman explained, “I always just focused on making the biggest mess. I was a carver for five years,” he related, “and I took a year off, then became the organizer.” Cirque had stepped away, and Jet City Improv had taken it on – for one year. The Oktoberfest organizers, Bold Hat Productions, then asked Hegeman who might be able to carry on, and he recommended Roman.
Flattered at being at the top of the list, and seeing his fee – as organizer – as necessary rent money (Roman is a student at the University of Washington,) he agreed. Today he enjoys the way the show, “ties me to the neighborhood in a very specific way.”
Roman faithfully preserves the proud Texas Chainsaw Pumpkin Carving tradition, in displaying the original banner each year, unmolested and uncleaned. “It’s nasty and it’s gorgeous,” he described, with the layers of at least 12 years of pumpkin splatter upon it.
What It Takes To Carve A Pumpkin, Fremont Style
At the 2011 Oktoberfest, Ian Stone, an independent filmmaker (Sleepwalk Productions) and PCC cook, will mark his fourth year carving or, as Roman described it, “making a mess.”
“At first,” Stone explained, he focused on making his performance fun, “now I’m going to work on winning.” The audience judges the competition, and Stone believes he knows the secret – “they don’t care about performance, but what your pumpkin looks like.” The favorite personality among the audience can win, Roman agreed, but he’s found it usually comes down to, “who made the most scary Jack-O-Lantern.”
The carvers must be professional as this is a five minute demonstration done live, “with a very clumsy tool,” Stone declared. “What’s positive about using the chainsaw,” he explained, “it’s heavy so it is hard to be delicate but if you overcome that you have carte blanche. You can really go at it.” As Roman explained, “you’d be surprised at how many different cutting surfaces the chainsaw has, and how versatile a chainsaw can become.”
“I grew up on Whidbey Island, so I’ve torn things up with a chainsaw…,” Stone admitted. “A part of this is performance art,” Stone acknowledged, but he feels ready to blend skill and show and gain the win. For 2011, he has considered resurrecting a character he created for his second year – a magician named ‘Ian The Magnificent,’ recently downgraded by the Magician’s Council to ‘Ian The Reasonably Alright.’
What It Takes To Pulverize A Pumpkin, Roman Style
As for Roman’s exhibition in the beer garden, “they want to see pumpkin destruction. I can aim pumpkin guts. If I don’t like what I’m doing, I can throw the pumpkin in the air…and start over.” For those who dare to attend, Roman will encourage the crowd to move closer, and then spray them with guts. He particularly enjoyed a showery Oktoberfest when the audience –covered in their rain gear – encouraged their being splattered.
“There are so many places in this city where you can get a beer,” Roman pointed out, as we sat at the George & Dragon Pub, “but not any others where you can get pumpkin sprinkled in your beer.” The Texas Chainsaw Pumpkin Carving started as a stunt meant to draw people to Oktoberfest. Today the festival holds its own, with a loyal fan base that includes Roman and Stone. As Stone explained, many beer gardens have an impressive selection of microbrews, but “the Oktoberfest, it’s like a playground for adults!”
“This is the first year I’ll try to win,” admitted Stone. To cheer on ‘Ian The Reasonably Alright’, and Roman, stop by Fremont Oktoberfest on Saturday, September 24th or Sunday, September 25th. If you prefer your beer unmolested by pumpkin splatter, Oktoberfest on Friday evening, September 23rd will be devoid of chainsaw drone and the splatter of the guts. You see, they can do that too!
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©2011 Kirby Lindsay. This column is protected by intellectual property laws, including U.S. copyright laws. Reproduction, adaptation or distribution without permission is prohibited.