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Half Moon Bay’s 51st Safeway World Championship Pumpkin Weigh-Off
October 17, 2024 @ 7:00 am - 11:00 am PDT
This year marks the 51st anniversary of Half Moon Bay’s now world-famous Safeway World Championship Pumpkin Weigh-Off and the organizing team today announced some of the special flourishes in the works to celebrate its fascinating story and proud history. The Super Bowl of weigh-offs will be held on Monday, October 14 from 7am to 11am on the IDES Grounds, 735 Main Street, in historic downtown Half Moon Bay.
Weigh-Off Wall of Fame Mural, Champions Plaque and Honorary Inductees Installation
Half Moon Bay’s Safeway World Championship Pumpkin Weigh-Off marked 50 years in 2023 and this year, to celebrate its fascinating story and proud history, organizers will be unveiling a special Weigh-Off Wall of Fame that will be permanently displayed on the south wall of the Cunha Market on Kelly Avenue starting in October. Coastside artist Julie Engelmann, who created the remarkable landmark mural in 2022 to honor the 50th Pumpkin Festival, designed and painted a new adjacent mural to frame and surround the special bronze cast Weigh-Off Wall of Fame Champions Plaque and Honorary Inductees Plaque. The inaugural class of honorary inductees includes Al Adreveno, Mel Mello Sr., Dolores Mullin, George Ginilo and Hank Sciaroni with more additions to come every year. Founding underwriters of the project include Joseph W. Cotchett, Half Moon Bay Winery, Half Moon Bay Brewing Company, Safeway, IDES Society of Half Moon Bay, Cameron and Kevin Palmer, the Half Moon Bay Beautification Committee and Miramar Events.
The Wall of Fame Plaque Will Also Tell the Wonderful Story of How It All Began – See Below:
“Sometimes a little seed can go a long way. What started out in 1974 as a fun, light-hearted contest between Circleville, Ohio and Half Moon Bay, California, two cities proclaiming to be the Pumpkin Capital of the World, has grown into Half Moon Bay’s Safeway World Championship Pumpkin Weigh-Off, the Super Bowl of pumpkin weigh-off competitions worldwide.
Lore has it that while visiting Half Moon Bay in 1974, Frank Barnhill, then mayor of Circleville, Ohio, was deeply impressed with the prolific and passionate local pumpkin-growing culture. He met with members of the Half Moon Bay City Council, including Al Adreveno and Melvin Mello Sr., and they agreed to have their two proud pumpkin-loving cities square off in the first head to head pumpkin weigh-off, hauling the largest local gourds to their historic city halls for the official weighing competition. Once concluded, the two mayors got on a phone call to announce their respective winning weight and grower. To formalize the proceedings, county ag representatives officiated both weigh-offs to make things official. That first year, Half Moon Bay’s biggest pumpkin, 132-pounds, grown by John Minaidis, won by one pound. Half Moon Bay brought home the coveted title of Pumpkin Capital of the World that very first year and a legend was born.”
Prize Haul Includes the Pumpkin King Champions Ring and Mel Mello Sr. Grand Champion Growers Jacket
There are dazzling, one-of-a-kind rings to honor Super Bowl, World Series, and NBA Finals champions and, in monster pumpkin growing circles, there is Half Moon Bay’s one and only Pumpkin King Champions Ring that will be awarded to the winner along with the $9 per pound top prize and the coveted Mel Mello Sr. Grand Champion Growers Jacket. The spectacular ring is designed and sponsored by Josh Warshauer, second generation owner of Goldworks on Main Street in Half Moon Bay. The ring is sterling silver with the weigh-off logo in a 14kt yellow gold top plate with the winner’s name and pumpkin weight engraved on the inside.
SAFEWAY WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP PUMPKIN WEIGH-OFF, “WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP OF GARGANTUAN GOURDS” (51st Annual), Half Moon Bay, California
When: Monday, Oct. 14; weighing will take place from 7 a.m. – 11 a.m.
What: No weigh? Get Outta Here. Ya Weigh!!! Bring it on burly, beefy, bodacious behemoths! The excitement is building in Pumpkintown as the World’s Greatest Gourd Growers and their Goliath, mind-bending, Rhinoceros-sized orange orbs hope to squash the world record (set at 2023 Half Moon Bay weigh-off!) on Monday, October 14 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.
Using a pay-by-the-pound system, the world’s biggest top prize of $9/pound will be awarded to the weigh-off champion thanks to title sponsor, Safeway. The winner will also receive the Pumpkin King Champions Ring and coveted Mel Mello Sr. Grand Champion Growers Jacket.
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.
Travis Gienger set a new world record with his mind-blowing 2,749-pound Rhino-Gourd in dominating last year’s 50th Safeway World Championship Pumpkin Weigh-Off in Half Moon Bay. The immense girth of Gienger’s beast required organizers to purchase a new scale to accomodate its enormity. Gienger, now established as pumpkin grower GOAT, and his monster pumpkin that he named Michael Jordan, another GOAT, has won the Half Moon Bay weigh-off three times.
A host of accomplished veteran growers are expected to contend for the coveted title including Gienger who’s returning to defend his title. He’s growing and bringing a pumpkin that’s taping/measuring as big or bigger than last year, projected at more than 7′ wide by weigh-off reckoning day.
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 $1000 prize awarded for the “Joe Cotchett Family Most Beautiful Pumpkin” as judged by the audience based on color, shape and size.
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.
Spectator admission is free. The weigh-off is open to the public.
When: October 14, 2024. Hours are 7 a.m. – 11 a.m.
Where: IDES Grounds, 735 Main Street, Main St, Half Moon Bay CA
Website: http://weighoff.miramarevents.com