The weekend before Halloween brought a spirited mix of fitness and fun as the Pahrump Disability Outreach Program (P.D.O.P.) hosted its 16th annual Pumpkin Days celebration — featuring the 15th annual Monster Dash walk and run on Saturday, October 25.
This year’s Monster Dash drew 90 participants, a mix of runners and walkers of all ages, who came together to support P.D.O.P.’s mission of inclusion and accessibility. The event raised approximately $2,000 through entry fees alone, not including sponsorships, with all proceeds benefiting local disability outreach programs.
The competition brought plenty of excitement and festive energy, with Edward Wilson finishing as the fastest overall male participant in 20:24, and Dominique Malloy earning the fastest female time at 24:13.
Kevin Trygstad (22:26) and Tracy Trygstad (32:50) topped the 18–25 division, while ages 26–35, the fastest times belonged to Nicolas Jay and Julia Withers, and in the 36–45 group, C.J. Zens and Dominique Malloy took top spots. Among the 46 and over category, Matt Eichner (32:11) and Laura Wilson (29:29) were the division leaders.
Adding a touch of Halloween spirit, the Trio from Apartments 24/7 won the Best Costume award.
The Monster Dash was just one highlight of the weekend, as PDOP’s Pumpkin Days festival did exceedingly well, with about 3,800 wristbands distributed and nearly 1,000 pumpkins sold. The event raised just shy of $45,000 before expenses, including about $21,000 from wristbands, $5,000 from pumpkin sales, $11,000 from food, and $3,000 from the snack shack. Top food items included drinks, chili cheese nachos, and pulled pork sandwiches, while snow cones and slushies led snack sales.
From festive costumes to family-friendly competition, this year’s Monster Dash and Pumpkin Days once again showcased Pahrump’s dedication to community, compassion, and seasonal fun — proving that when it comes to supporting a good cause, everyone can take part in the race.
