BARNESVILLE, Ohio — The 61st Annual Barnesville Pumpkin Festival kicks off today with the giant pumpkin weigh in. The full schedule of fun runs from Thursday, September 25 through Sunday, September 28, bringing food, contests, music, and family fun to the streets of Barnesville.
The festival’s centerpiece, the King Pumpkin, will take the spotlight at Wednesday night’s weigh-in. Farmers from across the region are hoping their entries claim the crown. The record for the largest pumpkin is 2,405 pounds, set three years ago, while the smallest King Pumpkin weighed just 72 pounds back in 1964. Last year, the 2024 King Pumpkin was grown by Lee and Derrik Zappa of Mercer, Pennsylvania, weighing in at 2,196 pounds and selling for an impressive $13,000.
Visitors can enjoy an array of pumpkin-flavored treats, from pies to ice cream to donuts, along with food booths offering a variety of other options.
New This Year: The Pumpkin Market is a brand-new festival area you won’t want to miss! Located in the East Main Street parking lot between Avenues of Barnesville and Cheffy Drugs (132 East Main Street), the Pumpkin Market features:
- Outdoor vendors with crafts, primitives, and unique goods
- Handmade treasures
- Kids’ activities (at cost) including Create Your Own Sand Art, Create Your Own Shirts, and Face Painting
Whether you’re shopping for one-of-a-kind finds, decorating your home with fall primitives, or letting the kids get creative, the Pumpkin Market has something for the whole family.
The 100-year-old State Theater will also be open for tours during the festival.
The festival, which began 61 years ago in the basement of the local Catholic Church, draws over 100,000 visitors across four days. On Saturday alone, an estimated 27,000 out-of-town guests are expected to attend. The day’s parade, one of the state’s largest, will feature retired Belmont County Sheriff Dave Lucas as grand marshal.
Other festival highlights include a car show that often sees over 500 entries, live music, and a variety of contests celebrating the region’s agricultural and community traditions.
Organizers and fans alike are looking forward to another memorable festival. See the full festival schedule here.
