Competitive pumpkin growers from across the country flocked to Half Moon Bay to showcase their giant pumpkins for the 53rd Annual World Championship Pumpkin Weigh-Off on Monday morning. The competition featured contests for the Open Division (heaviest pumpkin), Biggest from the State of California, Biggest from the Coastside, and the Most Beautiful Pumpkin/Joe Cotchett Family Award.
The event began early in the morning as each pumpkin was brought out to be weighed and evaluated. Stands with merchandise, free bagels, pastries, coffee, and cookies were set up for all attendees. In between pumpkin weights being announced, the Half Moon Bay High School Band performed. Community member Lisa Walker was among the few early birds who came to watch. “I’m just happy to be here because I’ve always wanted to come,” Walker said. “I’m up early, so I’m going.”
Any pumpkin that has a crack, soft spot, or any sort of rot can be disqualified. “There can be a stem split. So anyone who can get it to the scale, that’s an accomplishment,” pumpkin grower Keith Bordsen said.
In some cases, contestants attempt to cheat their way to winning. “There’ve been cases where people inject extra water [into their pumpkins],” pumpkin weigh-off communication manager Jorge Machado said.
After all the pumpkins were weighed, the top 20 were ranked and awarded cash prizes. Travis Gienger, who traveled from Minnesota for the competition, won the heaviest pumpkin competition. “[Pumpkin growing has] brought me all over the world,” he said. This was Gienger’s fifth win at the Half Moon Bay weigh-off with a 2,389-lb pumpkin, securing him a $21,501 cash prize.
Geinger earned a world record for the heaviest pumpkin in 2023 at the 50th edition of the competition. His winning pumpkin, Michael Jordan, weighed 2,749 pounds, surpassing the former world record of 2,702 pounds set in Italy in 2021. “When I was 14 years old, I grew a 447-pounder,” he said. “Almost 30 years later, I set a world record.”
First-time attendees expressed their awe for the pumpkins. “I’m completely gobsmacked,” Linda Galindo said. “If you come with a child’s mind, it’s just super fun.”
Jake and Kayla Leonard’s pumpkin won second-heaviest overall and the Biggest from State of California pumpkin. “This is like the Super Bowl weigh-off,” J. Leonard said. “When you get [a pumpkin] like [ours], we’ve got to take it to Half Moon [Bay].”
After the judges made their decisions, the growers convened for a luncheon to exchange notes on pumpkin genetics. “We chase the genetics [in the pumpkin seeds],” pumpkin grower Randy Warren said. Big pumpkin seeds sell for around $500 per seed at auction. “[The seeds have] gone up to ridiculous amounts of money,” he said.
While the weigh-off is a competition, it is also a huge community-building event. “Everyone’s so friendly,” K. Leonard said. “Everybody is rooting for each other, and I love that. I think that’s our favorite part.”
