Half Moon Bay Art & Pumpkin Festival
Safeway World Championship Pumpkin Weigh-Off in Half Moon Bay, California, the prelude to its world-famous Pumpkin Festival.
Sagging pick up trucks crammed with massive pumpkins, their giant roots planted in buckets of water to prevent weight-loss, will line the street awaiting their place of destiny in the worldwide media spotlight or the Libby’s canning factory. The gargantuan gourds will be forklifted on to an industrial-strength scale under the watchful eye of retired San Mateo County Agricultural Commissioner George Ginilo who will be officiating the contest.
Some eighty contestants are expected to take a shot at besting the 1,229-pound Atlantic Giant entered last year by 5-time champion Joel Holland. Holland, from Puyallup WA, squashed the field in 2005 with his record-setting Atlantic Giant. He will be among a host of contenders from throughout the west, including eight past champions, gunning for glory in hopes of capturing the coveted title and a share of the prize money in this “Heavyweight Championship” of gargantuan gourds.
Kicking off Half Moon Bay’s big Pumpkin Festival week, the official weighing will begin at 7:30 a.m. on the I.D.E.S. Grounds, 735 Main Street. With a top prize of $5 per pound at stake, the pay-by-the-pound system is expected to pay out a top prize of more than $5,000. About $20,000 in prize money will be awarded to the top ten heaviest overall and the top three San Mateo County entries, with special prize money also awarded to the biggest pumpkins from California, the Half Moon Bay Coastside, and the San Mateo County Farm Bureau. Beauty will share the spotlight with brawn. A special $500 prize will be awarded to the “most beautiful pumpkin” as judged by the audience.
The weighing will be officiated by representatives from the San Mateo County Agricultural Commissioner’s Office of Weights, Sealers, and Measures using a 5-ton capacity digital scale. The grand champion pumpkin will be on display at the world-famous Half Moon Bay Art & Pumpkin Festival on October 14-15. The weigh-off will be held from 7:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. For information on the weigh-off and festival, call 650-726-9652.
tags:half moon bay, pumpkin festival