KEENE, N.H. (MyKeeneNow) – A quirky Keene tradition is making a comeback this weekend as the Historical Society of Cheshire County brings back the International Zucchini Festival.

The festival takes place Saturday, October 3, from noon to 3 p.m. at Wyman Tavern on Main Street. The event originally began in Harrisville in 1982 before moving to Keene, where it ran for about a decade and became known for its unusual contests, parade and agricultural-fair atmosphere.

The revival is inspired by a new exhibit at the Historical Society called “Zukes No Cukes,” which explores the history of the festival. The exhibit grew out of a Keene State College archival-methods project involving the Dayton Duncan Collection. Students initially considered developing an exhibit about filmmaker Ken Burns, but after speaking with Duncan and some of the festival’s original organizers, they turned their attention to the zucchini festival.

The resulting exhibit combines photographs, artifacts, oral histories, newspaper coverage and archival footage, including segments from New Hampshire Crossroads. It also includes a 20-minute film and explores the festival’s connection to local events and debates of the 1980s, including controversy surrounding nuclear power and the Seabrook nuclear station.

The exhibit will be open Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Historical Society at 246 Main Street, across from Wyman Tavern.

The festival itself will feature a community parade beginning at noon, along with a variety of zucchini-themed competitions and activities. Organizers are planning the Grate Off Contest, a motorized zucchini race, a zucchini relay race, a zucchini toss and an agricultural hall featuring categories such as Silliest Zucchini, Best in Show and Best Zucchini Bread.

Families can also take part in activities including face painting, ring toss and zucchini carving and decorating. Food and drink vendors will be on hand, and awards are scheduled for 2:30 p.m.

Attendees can also purchase festival merchandise featuring artwork from New Hampshire comic artist Merrick Bennett. Zucchini used during the festival will be collected afterward for animals at Amazing Grace Farm.

Admission is $10 for adults, $5 for children, with a $20 maximum for families. Admission includes “gadzukes,” the festival’s zucchini-themed currency, which can be used for food and activities. The Historical Society is also encouraging attendees to bring a perishable food donation for The Community Kitchen in exchange for an additional gadzuke.

Organizers say they hope the revival captures the playful, participatory spirit of the original festival. Whether it becomes an annual event will depend in part on how Saturday’s revival goes.

The Historical Society of Cheshire County says the festival is being held as a fundraiser for the organization.