A zucchini festival grows again in the Monadnock Region

A zucchini may be a vegetable to most people. At one of the Monadnock Region's more unusual festivals, it might become a boat, a puppet, a motorized vehicle — or even a rocket. Decades after the International Zucchini Festival captured the imagination of the region, the Historical Society of Cheshire County is preparing to revive some of its peculiar traditions this fall. The International Zucchini Festival will return Saturday, Oct. 3, as part of the Historical Society's "Zukes No Cukes" exhibit, which explores the history of the festival that began in Harrisville in 1982. The original festival started as a fundraiser for the Harrisville School before developing into one of the region's most talked-about events. Its combination of community participation, humor and eccentric zucchini-themed competitions eventually attracted coverage from The Boston Globe, Newsday and The Wall Street Journal. For Eric Weisenberger, director of development at the Historical Society, one of the clearest indications of the festival's impact has been the reaction from those who remember it. "When people hear that we're doing an exhibit to honor the history of this festival, their faces light up," Weisenberger said. "People have such vivid memories of the event because they participated in the 'creative whimsy' that the organizers sought to create." That participation was central to the festival. Rather than simply watching, visitors were encouraged to become part of the spectacle. One of the first festivals even played host to the wedding of Peg Monahan and Harry Wolhandler. "The public was encouraged to reshape zucchinis into boats and puppets and motorized vehicles," Weisenberger said. "They were encouraged to enter the contests, to dress up, and to make signs to march in the parade, etc. At one event, a man showed up to launch a zucchini rocket off his head. The event was great because of the organizers' ability to let go and share the creative process with the visitors." The Historical Society is looking to recapture that spirit through both the exhibit and the revived festival. "Zukes No Cukes" traces the festival from its beginnings as a school fundraiser through its emergence as a regional phenomenon. The festival's agricultural-style exhibit hall featured competitions that put an unconventional spin on the traditional county fair. Contestants competed for green ribbons in categories including Farthest Traveled Zucchini and Most Grotesque Zucchini Not Grown Within Ten Miles of a Nuclear Power Plant. Culinary competitors could strive for either Best Zucchini Casserole or Worst Zucchini Casserole. The exhibit is dedicated to Nancy "Pooky" Hayden, one of the festival's original organizers. "When asked in 1982 whether the festival would become an annual event, Hayden said simply, 'I should hope so — it's a lot easier than selling brownies,'" Weisenberger said. "Her comment still captures the spirit of the whole endeavor." The festival's humor also extended to the political and cultural concerns of its era. Its "Zukes No Cukes" slogan played off the anti-nuclear "No Nukes" movement at a time when the Seabrook Station nuclear power plant was the subject of controversy in New Hampshire. Interactive portions of the exhibit will invite visitors to create headlines, taste-test recipes and dress as characters including Ms. Zucchini and the Zuke of Earl. The celebration will move beyond the exhibit when the International Zucchini Festival returns Oct. 3. Among those making a comeback will be Dr. Zuke, a character from the original festival who will inspect the health of attendees' zucchinis while keeping watch for cucumbers attempting to sneak into the event. Organizers are encouraging attendees to embrace the same spirit of participation that defined the original festival. Visitors can bring zucchinis to enter competitions, dress as characters and participate in activities. Attendees will also be able to purchase "gadzukes," the festival's official currency, which can be used for activities and food. "We encourage people to come with an open mind," Weisenberger said. "Bring their zucchinis to participate in the variety of contests. Dress up as a character. Come together as a community to celebrate the end of this summer's zucchini glut."