51st Safeway World Championship Pumpkin Weigh-Off (Half Moon Bay)

Submitted by the Event Organizer

51st Safeway World Championship Pumpkin Weigh-Off
Thursday, October 14, 2024 | 7am- 11am
IDES Grounds, 735 Main Street, Main St, Half Moon Bay CA
Free admission – Grower Registration

Image courtesy of Miramar Events: Safeway World Championship Pumpkin Weigh-Off 2023 Champion Travis Gienger and his record setting rhinoceros-sized world record breaking 2749lb mega gourd

The excitement is building in Pumpkintown as the World’s Greatest Gourd Growers and their titanic, mind-blowing, Volkswagen-sized orange orbs hope to squash the world record on Monday, October 14, 2024 at the 51st Safeway World Championship Pumpkin Weigh-Off –– the ‘Super Bowl of Weigh-Offs’ –– in the World Pumpkin Capital of Half Moon Bay, California.

This year organizers, in association with title sponsor Safeway, are upping the ante big time to celebrate the world’s greatest gourd growers.

Using a pay-by-the-pound system, the world’s biggest top prize of $9/pound will be awarded to the 2024 weigh-off champion. Also at stake are thousands of dollars in super hefty prize money doled out to the top 20 plus the big carrot: a $30,000 total mega-prize for a new world record pumpkin entered at Half Moon Bay.

In 2023 Travis Gienger from Anoka, MN had a mind blowing 2,749-pound mega-gourd which set a new World Record and handily won the 2023 Safeway World Championship Pumpkin Weigh-Off in Half Moon Bay. Ron Root and Nick Kennedy also achieved a remarkable feat, setting a new California State Record with their 2,497-pound pumpkin.

A host of accomplished veteran growers are expected to contend for the coveted title. The champion will be feted and play a starring role in the world-famous Half Moon Bay Art & Pumpkin Festival, Oct. 19-20 (including a free weekend at the posh, pumpkin-centric Ritz-Carlton on the stunningly beautiful Half Moon Bay coast).

“Beauty will share center stage with beefy brawn with a $1,000 prize awarded for the ‘Joe Cotchett Family Most Beautiful Pumpkin’ as judged by the audience based on color, shape and size.

New for 2024: The Pumpkin Weigh-off “Wall of Fame”
Special features for the 51^ST anniversary of the Safeway World Championship Pumpkin Weigh-off include a one-of-a-kind ring for the winner, skillfully crafted by Goldworks, and the unveiling of a Wall of Fame for documenting the winners and key players of the weigh-off over the years. The Wall of Fame will include a mural by Julie Engelman and brass plaques that denote the history of the event, past 50 winners, and in the future will expand to include the key players who made the weigh-off what it is today.

The grand champion gourd (along with the top four overall) will be on display plus there’s a special weigh-off champion pumpkin photo booth at the Half Moon Bay Art & Pumpkin Festival, October 19-20, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Main Street.

MORE INFO HERE

Disclaimer: Please double check event information with the event organizer as events can be canceled, details can change after they are added to our calendar, and errors do occur.