2025 North American Champion Pumpkin—2,741 pounds—on Display at Pittsburgh Festival!
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mjdon@pm.me
Image 2: Logo for Pittsburgh Monster Pumpkins Festival. [Click images for larger view]
PITTSBURGH, PA, October 13, 2025 (PittsburghNewsWire.com) — The largest pumpkin grown in North America this year will make its way to Pittsburgh this weekend as part the “Champion’s Row” display at the Pittsburgh Monster Pumpkins Festival.
Nurtured and forged by long-time grower Karl Haist of Clarence City, NY, the colossal cucurbit weighs an astounding 2,741 pounds—just 78 pounds shy of the world record also set this year by Ian and Stuart Paton of the United Kingdom, whose pumpkin became the first ever to break 2,800 pounds…settling in at 2,819.
Haist’s prodigious fruit took first place at the Ohio Valley Giant Pumpkin Growers Weigh-off, Oct. 11 in Canfied, OH. The site is an official weigh-off location recognized by the Great Pumpkin Commonwealth—an organization that serves as the major sanctioning body for giant pumpkin growing competitions.
At the City’s festival this weekend, spectators can see the stupendous specimen as it takes center stage in a special display that annually features some of the biggest pumpkins grown world-wide. It will be flanked by two, nearly 2,500 pounders grown by Dave Stelts of Enon Valley, PA [2,477] and Andy Wolf of Little Valley, NY [2,449]. In 2024, Stelts grew the biggest pumpkin in the world at 2,731 pounds.
The all free festival, presented by Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine [LECOM], happens this Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 18-19, in the Stacks Courtyard—part of the 3 Crossings campus in the Strip District on Railroad Street.
The event offers an engaging line-up of activities enticing to spectators of all ages including:
- LECOM Costume Caper 5K Run/Walk—top 3 finishers, male and female, in eight age categories take home glass pumpkin trophies…all entrants receive a medal, tech t-shirt and special post-race treats…plus special prizes reward scariest, funniest and most original costume-wearers
- LECOM Gourd Games—four of the top giant pumpkin carvers in the country compete against each other within the theme–weird science. A team of celebrity judges, along with online spectator voting, will determine a winner
- Punkin’ Dunkin’ Drops—one ton pumpkins dropped from over 200 feet high, free-falling into a pool of water
- Punkin’ Pull—a 1,000+ pound cucurbit on a wheeled cart outfitted with a bull rope awaits those willing to pull it nearly 60 feet uphill in the fastest time
- Squash-sling—yep, insert your pumpkin, aim, pull and release for one funny fling
- Cozy carriage rides—majestic Percherons from Misty Lane Farms provide enchanting rides all day
- Brilliant bales—talented muralists spray–paint dynamic scenes on pumpkins and giant round hay bales weighing nearly 1,000 pounds
- Glass class—glass–blowers from Vessel Studio Glass demonstrate this centuries–old technique and sell exquisite Fall–themed pieces
- Pie eating contests—no hands, no utensils, nothing but a face plant into the pie is allowed
- Selfi-stations—featuring authentic looking characters to capture that perfect picture
- Vendor variety—70+ craft, food/drink and other vendors add charm and ambiance
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