Dozens of families gathered in the South Bellevue Community Center parking lot on Saturday, Oct. 27, for the eighth annual Great Pumpkin Race event.

The Great Pumpkin Race has kids and families dress up pumpkins, attach wheels to the bottom, and race the pumpkins down a hill in the parking lot. The races are the first event of the annual Halloween on the Hill event held at the South Bellevue Community Center.

This year, 13-year-old Max Fleming took home the first-place prize for the first race of the day with his orca-whale-themed “P31 Gordca.” By attaching rubber bands to the wheels, the pumpkin kept moving relatively straight down the hill and avoided crashing into walls.

Sam Patton, 13, was also recognized in the morning race with the award for Best Decorated Pumpkin for his Shrek-themed pumpkin. Patton and his family said they have attended the community center’s pumpkin race event every year since it began.

After the Great Pumpkin Race, the community center opened it’s doors to a Halloween-themed carnival held inside the building for the rest of the day.

Max Fleming, 13, and his pumpkin “P31 Gordca” won first place at the morning run of the Great Pumpkin Race on Oct. 27. Evan Pappas/Staff Photo

Two pumpkins race down the hill in the South Bellevue Community Center parking lot at the Great Pumpkin Race on Oct. 27. Evan Pappas/Staff Photo