Growers from across the United States bring giant pumpkins to the IDES grounds on Main Street on the Monday before the festival. The weigh-off is a stop on the official Great Pumpkin Commonwealth circuit. In 2019 it won the commonwealth’s top weigh-off site award for the ten heaviest pumpkins among 114 sanctioned sites around the world.
The heaviest winner so far was the 2023 champion at 2,749 pounds, which is about 1,247 kilograms. The winning pumpkin rides in the festival parade and stays on display for the weekend. The festival itself was canceled in 2020 and 2021, although a weigh-off was still held in 2021.
At the 2004 event, the winner earned $6,145 for his grower.
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