MADISON, Wis. — A handful of Madison residents gathered at Sheridan Triangle Park on Sunday for the Sheridan Triangle Halloween Parade and Pumpkin Derby.

“The rules are, you make a pumpkin racer out of a pumpkin, two axles, four wheels, and they can be any size. You decorate them and we bracket race them,” said Jessica Brooks, creator of the Pumpkin Derby.

(Spectrum News 1/Cody Taylor)

Brooks said during the COVID-19 pandemic, she and her neighbors were sick of sitting inside so she came up with a fun way that everyone could get outside, have fun and stay safe. 

“Well, it started in 2020 with COVID and we needed to get outside, so we started a parade and we gave a bunch of candy away and then this is the pumpkin derby,” Brooks said.

(Spectrum News 1/Cody Taylor)

Eight different pumpkins took part in this year’s derby and Brooks said everyone is welcome to join in on the fun next year.

“It is a neighborhood thing, but anyone who is in the area who wants to come, the more the merrier,” said Brooks.