Missoula’s Z100 Great Pumpkin: Clues Drop Oct. 20 — Will You Win?

There are so many fall traditions that we love in Missoula. The leaves are changing colors. It’s time to pull out those hoodies and layers. A pumpkin mysteriously appears atop the Main Hall’s spire at the University of Montana. And the Z100 Great Pumpkin makes a comeback. 

For over six decades, the elusive gourd has frustrated and entertained generations of Missoulians. In some years, the pumpkin is far easier to find than in others. Who remembers when a dog on a walk found the pumpkin? Or the time the pumpkin was found by a person visiting town, who happened to find it and had no idea what it was? 

A Tradition Rooted in Lore

Every year, there’s another story added to the lore of the Great Pumpkin. Will you be the one telling your friends and family that it was you who found the pumpkin? Or will you be one of the angry pumpkin hunters who just missed it this year?  

READ MORE: 7 Unique Traditions That are Only Found in Missoula

For many pumpkin hunters, it’s less about the prizes and more about the thrill. But the prizes don’t hurt.  

Prizes & Partners for 2025

This year’s Great Pumpkin finder won’t just earn bragging rights — they’ll receive a prize package featuring gifts from:  

Hunter Bay Coffee Roasters 

The Depot 

Paradise Falls 

Field of Screams 

The Montana Lottery 

Griz Football Tickets 

Clues begin Monday, October 20, with three new clues broadcast on the radio each day. Each day’s clues will then be posted on our website the following day. This year, we will send a bonus clue to our Z100 Classic Rock app users.  

Good luck in your search for the Z100 Great Pumpkin.