The zucchini competed in water races and best-dressed contests.

WEST STOCKBRIDGE, Mass. — Sheffield has Mumbet, Great Barrington has DuBois, Stockbridge has the Mohicans and West Stockbridge has … the zucchini.

Thousands gathered Saturday for the 7th annual Zucchini Festival sponsored by the West Stockbridge Cultural Council. Young and old strolled the sunny streets of the little town in celebration of all things zucchini. They were not disappointed: Zucchini races down the Williams River (compete with a water obstacle course), a baking contest, and a zucchini decorating contest were among the key events at the festival.

"This is just a really fun time," said volunteer and zucchini judge Jane Kiviat. "We've actually found our winner early this year."

Kiviat was referring to "My Cousin Vinny," a mammoth 34-pound, 3-ounce zucchini submitted by Brad and Maryanne Richer of West Stockbridge.

"They brought it up here modestly," Kiviat said. "They had to carry it in a wagon, it was wrapped in burlap and when we opened it up we were all speechless. It’s a good thing they brought it when they did because the mice got at it a little bit the day before."
 

The best thing about zucchini is how many ways you can eat it!

Size was not the only thing on display at the festival. Creativity was the only requirement of the nearly 20 zucchini costumes submitted by kids. Fish made with ribbon and glue-on eyes lay side by side next to gnomes bearded with cotton balls and glitter-covered chanteuse singers limbed with pipe cleaners.

In addition to this humorous and very sparkly display of zucchini people, the zucchini baking contest did not disappoint. The winner in the sweets category was "Zucmisu," a zucchini-bread, coffee-soaked version of the Italian classic tiramisu. In the savory category, a smoky flavored sandwich, the "ZLT" took the prize. And no visitor could resist at least one order of zucchini fries with marinara sauce, a festival favorite.

According to Paul Dehoust of Baldwin's Hardware (the oldest family-owned hardware story in the Berkshires founded in 1864), the festival draws quite a crowd, each seeking something different.

"This festival is good and bad for us," he said. "People get to see our store who've never been here before, and the town. I just had a guy from Becket stop in, been in the area his whole life but never knew we were here.  It's good for business, we do all right. It's getting bigger every year."

Much like the Richers' prize zucchini, Dehoust said that the festival itself is gaining momentum since its first year.

"Just look at the gondola" he said pointing toward the giant zucchini-clad trailer. "It wasn't like that in the beginning. That first year it was pouring rain, kind of a disaster. But last year, we had 5,000 people at least. The bands are a big attraction. And sometimes the governor stops in unofficially."

While Gov. Deval Patrick was not spotted hurling vegetables with the famed zucchini cannon, it was clear that for a few hours, both the zucchini and the town had their day in the sun.