An Ohio Pumpkin Just Weighed 2,455 Pounds and Broke a Festival Record Going Back to 1903

CIRCLEVILLE, Ohio, Oct. 22, 2026 — A pumpkin weighing 2,455 pounds just became the biggest in the history of the Circleville Pumpkin Show, 10TV and NBC4 (via WDTN) reported Wednesday.

That's more than a ton of pumpkin. And it set an all-time record at a festival that has been running for well over a century.

## A Record-Breaking Weigh-In

The giant gourd was crowned at the show's Great Pumpkin Weigh-in on Wednesday, Oct. 21, the festival's opening day, according to both stations.

Its final weight: 2,455 pounds. Both 10TV and NBC4 reported that it broke the Circleville Pumpkin Show's all-time record.

The pumpkin was grown locally by a central Ohio grower, who took home the top prize.

## What It Takes to Grow a Giant

A pumpkin this size doesn't happen by accident. Giant pumpkins are grown from carefully chosen seeds and tended through a long summer season, with growers watching every inch of growth.

For the people who chase records, it is a hobby that can feel a lot like a second job, and a weigh-in like this one is the payoff.

## A Festival With Deep Roots

The Circleville Pumpkin Show is one of Ohio's best-known fall traditions. It dates back to 1903, both 10TV and NBC4 report.

According to 10TV, the very first show was the idea of the town's mayor at the time, who wanted an event that brought country folks and city dwellers together. More than 120 years later, it is still drawing crowds.

The weigh-in is only one part of the show. 10TV reported that the opening day also included the opening ceremony and the Little Miss Pumpkin Show and Miss Pumpkin Show pageants.

## Still Time to Go

This year's festival opened Wednesday and runs through Saturday, Oct. 24, according to both stations. NBC4 describes it as a four-day celebration of all things pumpkin.

Circleville is in central Ohio, south of Columbus. If you go, the record pumpkin is the one you can't miss.

## Why Giant Pumpkins Keep Getting Bigger

Giant pumpkin growing has become a serious competition across the country, with growers comparing seeds, soil and techniques every season. Each new record sets a higher bar for next year, and Circleville just raised its own.

> What We Know
> - What: A 2,455-pound pumpkin, the heaviest in Circleville Pumpkin Show history
> - When: Weigh-in on Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026
> - Where: Circleville, Ohio
> - Festival history: Started in 1903
> - Show dates: Oct. 21-24, 2026

Reported by 10TV/WBNS, WDTN/NBC4

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