BARNESVILLE — The Pumpkin Festival is officially underway.

At 5 p.m. Thursday, the first-ever King Pumpkin winner, Tom Rockwell, cut the ribbon, kicking off the four-day, pumpkin-themed event adored by many.

This year marks 60 years of the Barnesville staple that is the Pumpkin Festival.

In 1964, Rockwell entered his 72-pound pumpkin into the brand new competition, winning with an entry that was twice as big as the second place fruit. Since Rockwell’s win, the pumpkins entered into the King Pumpkin contest have grown exponentially with this year’s winner weighing 2,196 pounds.

The event that became the Barnesville Pumpkin Festival was originally called the Barnesville Fall Fest, and it was started by Vernon Burkhart in the basement of the Assumption Catholic Church.

Rockwell said watching the festival grow from an activity in a church basement to one of the largest events in Eastern Ohio has been a lot of fun. He said that after his 72-pound pumpkin victory, he never entered the competition again.

“I haven’t really tried to raise big pumpkins after the first couple years because I was involved in so much other stuff,” he said. “But I’ve been involved in the Pumpkin Festival over the years with the floats, and I used to help set up the stages for the entertainment. But the best part was a few years ago my next door neighbor won King Pumpkin. It was just so neat to have it back on Warren Avenue again.”

Rockwell’s neighbor, Daniel Stephens Jr., won in 2015 with a pumpkin weighing 1,486 pounds.

Before Rockwell cut the ribbon, the Voice of the Festival John Rataiczak introduced the royal court. The Pumpkin Queen is Wheeling Central High School senior Maddie Potts, the Princess is eighth grade student at Shadyside Middle School Norah Woods, and the Mini Miss is Barnesville Elementary second-grader Jordan Prati.

Rataiczak proceeded to read a proclamation that he was handed on the spot by Barnesville Mayor Jake Hershberger.

“It is with great pride and joy that we celebrate the 60th annual Barnesville Pumpkin Festival, a cherished tradition that has delighted and united our community and visitors for six decades,” he read. “And whereas this esteemed festival originally began as the Barnesville Fall Festival in 1964, became the Ohio Pumpkin Festival in 1970 and was rebranded as the Barnesville Pumpkin Festival in 2002. This has grown to become one of the premiere events in our region in the state, drawing over 100,000 attendees annually over the course of the four-day celebration.” Hershberger’s proclamation added that the festival stands as a testament to the spirit of Barnesville.

After reading the proclamation, Rataiczak led attendees in a countdown, which was followed by Rockwell cutting the ribbon to mark the start of the festival. Following the ribbon cutting, Rockwell’s cousin, Barnesville Pumpkin Festival President Tim Rockwell, presented him with a plaque honoring him for being the ceremonial ribbon cutter.

Another Belmont County mover and shaker, Belmont County Sheriff David Lucas, was in attendance for the ribbon cutting. This year marks his final Pumpkin Festival as sheriff due to his upcoming retirement at the beginning of 2025. Lucas is a Barnesville native and said that the festival holds a very special place in his heart.

“I’m a Somerton boy, and when they closed the school we came to Barnesville. So all of these years since sixth grade, I’ve been coming to the Pumpkin Festival just like any kid. Over the years I’ve just seen it grow and grow – it is unbelievable,” Lucas said. “What the Pumpkin Festival committee puts together is beautiful and awesome!”

He added that even though the festival brings in 100,000 attendees throughout the entire four days it operates, it still feels like everybody in attendance is your neighbor. Although this is Lucas’s last year as sheriff, he said he plans to continue to attend the festival every year for the foreseeable future.

“Yes, this is my last year and it’ll be sad but it’ll also be good. I remember in January, 1981, the sheriff that hired me asked me to do the festival and ever since then I’ve been a part of the parade ever since,” Lucas said. “This is my hometown, and I’m very proud and lucky to be a part of it.”

The festival continues today through Sunday. The Giant Pumpkin Parade is at 12:45 p.m. Saturday and starts at Barnesville High School parking lot.