HomeTop StoriesThe annual Half Moon Bay pumpkin weigh-in draws a large early morning...

The annual Half Moon Bay pumpkin weigh-in draws a large early morning crowd

Crowds gather for the annual weigh-in of the Half Moon Bay pumpkin


Crowds gather for the annual weigh-in of the Half Moon Bay pumpkin

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A crowd gathered Monday morning for the 51st annual Safeway World Championships Pumpkin Weigh-Off in Half Moon Bay.

The annual contest, which draws entries from farmers across the country, will award $9 per pound to the first-place winner, as well as a Pumpkin King Champions Ring, a Mel Mello Sr. Grand Champion Growers Jacket and two nights at the chic Ritz Carlton Half Moon Bay. The weigh-in will also provide a special mega prize of $30,000 for each gourd that sets a new world record during the event.

The weigh-in started at 7 a.m. and will run until 11 a.m. at 735 Main St. in Half Moon Bay.

Using forklifts and special harnesses, the giant pumpkins will be carefully placed on a 5-ton capacity industrial digital scale under the watchful eyes of officials from the San Mateo County Agricultural Commissioner’s Office of Weights, Sealers, and Measures.

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Last year at the 50th annual competition was defending champion Travis Gienger of Minnesota set a new world record with his huge participation. Gienger’s colossal pumpkin – nicknamed ‘Michael Jordan’ after the Chicago Bulls basketball great – tipped the scales at 2,749 pounds.

Gienger is bringing a gourd that is the same size or larger than last year and is expected to be more than 7 feet wide at Monday’s weigh-in, according to a news release. Among the pumpkins that participated in the big prize on Monday was one grown by Santa Rosa resident Brandon Dawson in his backyard. That pumpkin is estimated to weigh over 2,000 pounds.

Spectators are welcome at the event and admission is free. The weigh-in is the first event in a week of seasonal festivities, highlighted by the 52nd annual Half Moon Bay Art and Pumpkin Festival this coming weekend.

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