The Great Pumpkin

Halloween is always a great time of year-- All the Ghouls and Goblins come out too play, you stuff yourself with candy and sugar filled munchies, and you get to dress up in some particular bad tasting costume ideas. But one of the coolest things about this time of year is the return of the biggest pumpkin contest! This is not suppose to be confused by with the Charlie Brown's classic, "The Great Pumpkin" but its pretty close.


Every year people from around the country gather with their unusually sized pumpkins and try to determine the greatest pumpkin in all the land. Each state has their own contest and those winners go onto nationally held competitions.

The trend for the past few years has been astounding, the majority of each state and national records have surpassed the previous year record. This year was the first time the record will stand more than one year. The world record is held by--Chris Steven (pictured right with pumpkin) of New Richmond, Wisconsin. His pumpkin weighted in at an astounding 1810 pounds in 2010, as much as a small Volkswagen Bug.

An even more spooky fact is that the records have usually surpassed the previous years by hundreds of pounds. These pumpkins are getting so big that forklifts are not even strong enough to move them.There is even a new "one ton" mark that these pumpkin growers are trying to achieve-- that's a whole lot of pumpkin pie.

These genetically mutated monsters are a sight too see, and have become national news this time of year. I have personally been to a few of these contests and its a crazy thing to see. When a pumpkin is taller than you, your perception of what is considered a large fruit changes.

If you want to catch a glimpse next year, there is a contest in Half Moon Bay every year and some other local ones that happen at the start of October. I truly suggest making a day out of it, a sight to see once in your life.