Official Rules
The Official Rules for Half Moon Bay's Safeway World Championship Pumpkin Weigh-Off are as follows:
- The weigh-off is open to growers of giant competition-sized pumpkins only.
- Pumpkins must be grown, cared for, and entered by the weigh-off contestant.
- Each contestant is limited to having one entry (one pumpkin) weighed.
- Pumpkins that have won prizes in any other weigh-off competitions are not eligible.
- In the event of a tie, prize money will be distributed equally among the tied parties.
- Decisions made by the judges are final in all cases.
- Pumpkins must be in healthy and undamaged condition, free of rot, holes and cracks through the cavity, chemical residue, and soft spots.
- To be classified as pumpkin, specimen must be 75% yellow/orange in color; all others will be classified as squash.
- The vine must be trimmed to one inch from the stem. No foreign material is permitted in the weighing.
- All pumpkins will be weighed without the use of tarps or other carrying devices.
- Pumpkins will be classified by division based on where the specimen is grown, not the residence of the grower.
- To receive the $30,000 world record prize, the grower must break and hold the world record at the conclusion of the Half Moon Bay weigh-off. If two or more growers happen to break the world record at Half Moon Bay, the prize money would go to the grower of the heaviest pumpkin.
- The weigh-off will be conducted in accordance with GPC rules.
- The winning pumpkin will remain in Half Moon Bay through the Half Moon Bay Art & Wine Festival, October 19-20, 2024.
DELIVERY OF ENTRIES:
Growers are responsible for bringing their entries to the weigh-off by 7:00 a.m. Weigh-off staff will move pumpkins by forklift. ALL entries will be handled with care. Get Directions
WEIGHING:
The weighing and inspection will be officiated by the GPC and San Mateo County Department of Agriculture Office of Weights and Measures. The official weighing will be conducted using a 5-ton capacity digital scale.
GROWER PRE-REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED:
This event is open to growers of giant competition-sized pumpkins only. Growers are required to pre-register online on through our Eventbrite registration page. This will help us manage and control the event and provide an accurate count of entries. Participating growers are allowed to have a limited number of family and assistants (max. 4 including grower). Your cooperation will help us run a well-organized event.
