The Barnesville Pumpkin Festival is taking place on the last weekend of September in Barnesville, Ohio. The event celebrates the fall harvest season with an emphasis on growing pumpkins. One of the iconic events in the state, The Barnesville Pumpkin Festival dates back to 1964. It is organized by a locally appointed committee and attracts over 100,000 attendees.
The Barnesville Pumpkin Festival offers four days of non-stop competitions, live entertainment, and culinary delights. Vendors offer harvest-inspired arts and crafts, and seasonal foods. Over 400 cars take part in a car show. There is also live music played on two stages. Games and amusement rides include the G-Force, The Pumpkin Ride, Monkey Cages, and The Umbrellas.
The Giant Pumpkin Weigh-Off
However, the major highlight of the festival is the giant pumpkin contest with a weigh-in of champions and the Giant Pumpkin Festival Parade. In 2018, a King Pumpkin of 1,511.5 lbs (686 kg) was sold for $8,000 at the festival's auction. In 2023, the "King" Pumpkin grown by Bill Neptune of New Concord was weighed at 1,950 lbs. (884 kg) and sold for a whopping $15,000.
The annual weigh-in is held on the Wednesday before the festival. Most contenders are over 650 kg (1400 lbs) and thus are weighed on a local funeral home's scale. The Annual Pumpkin Auction takes place on Sunday. The money raised during the auction is used to organize the festival.
Giant Pumpkin Parade (September 28, 2024)
The Giant Pumpkin Parade always starts at 12:45 pm on Saturday. The Parade, sponsored and presented by Woodsfield Savings Bank, boasts over 500 entries, including bands, businesses, equestrian units, church groups, clubs, and other organizations. Pumpkin trophies are awarded to the top 3 parade participants in such categories as Pumpkin/Harvest Float, Homemade Float, Best Group/Band, Best Auto/Truck, Best Royalty, Bst Tractor, and Best Horse (Unit or Hitch). The festival's main events take place from the junction of Chestnut Street and Main Street to the junction of Main Street and Gardner Street, and from the intersection of W. Church Street and N. Broadway Street to South Broadway and South Street.
Car Show (September 29, 2024)
The Barnesville Pumpkin Festival Antique and Classic Car Show is one of the largest such events in the region. Featuring hundreds of cars from Ohio, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania, the show has been one of the festival's main attractions. The event is held at the Barnesville High School campus, 910 Shamrock Drive, Barnesville, OH 43713. Registration runs from 9 am to noon, while the show itself runs till 4 pm. Registration fee is $15. Participants can compete for the "Best of Show" trophy, a special "Jackie Huntsman Memorial Trophy," and other awards.
