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BARNESVILLE -- The 2022 King Pumpkin set the Pennsylvania state record when a grower from Harrison City entered his 2,405-pound pumpkin that also was the Barnesville Pumpkin Festival’s largest ever pumpkin.
A group of businessmen from St. Clairsville purchased the "King" for $13,000, refilling festival coffers and helping to ensure that great food, contests, music, a giant parade and a car show that often has over 500 entries can return to the festival.
"We look forward to another great festival this year with a terrific lineup of entertainment and even more record-setting events," organizers wrote on their website. "See you in September!"
This year's festival is scheduled for Sept. 21-24 on the streets of downtown Barnesville. The event has been known to attract 100,000 people to western Belmont County over the course of the long weekend.
With a royal court, an extensive selection of food vendors including local favorites such as the Barnesville Rotary Club's fish sandwiches and Olney Friends School's pumpkin bread, carnival rides, games, talent shows, flea market style shopping and much more, there is plenty for people of all ages and interests to do throughout the event.
Even before the festival officially gets underway, one big aspect of the event draws hundreds of people to the corner of Main and Chestnut streets to watch the Giant Pumpkin Weigh-Off, always held the Wednesday night before the start of the festival. People from all across the region bring their carefully cultivated pumpkins to be weighed and to see if they can win the grand prize of $2 per pound for their entry. This event results in record-setting gourds being crowned over and over again. Those records exist at both the state and national levels and have been achieved by people who live both near and far from Barnesville.
And plenty of other contests take place during the weekend. Whether you have a hearty appetite and want to see how much pie you can eat, or if you've grown your beard and mustache to great lengths, there is an opportunity to complete against others with similar goals.
And all the hustle and bustle in the center of the village provides a perfect opportunity to just relax and take it all in or to catch up with and visit old friends who are also coming back home to enjoy the annual festivities.