Hasta La Creative!

It’s getting real at Dairy Queen this month, as the venerable fast-food chain stages an online battle between two of its Blizzard frozen treat flavors for autumnal supremacy.

The showdown: apple vs. pumpkin, and the best part of the tongue-in-cheek campaign is the rivalry it has created between “apple capital of the world” Wenatchee, Washington, and pumpkin festival home Caro, Michigan.

After all the fan votes are counted, one town will be crowned Blizzard Treat Capital of the World. The other will be wiped from the face of the earth, I imagine. 

Enthusiastic residents of each town really shine in campaign videos, as they extol the virtues of apples or pumpkins. I want to party with that Mike Myers-esque long-haired Wenatchee dude in the purple cap who says he “can’t get enough apples” because “apples are just happy … happy fruit.” Damn straight, my man!

That said, a compelling case is also made by the kid who proclaims, “I grew a 707-pound pumpkin.”

All of these folks are clearly proud of their communities, but they’re also wink-wink self-aware and in on the joke. It’s all quite good-natured, and plays like both a spoof and a celebration of homespun Americana.

For the record, pumpkin’s currently leading with 62 percent of the vote. Go pick your side.