Ginormous Pumpkins Inundate City

Pumpkin season is upon us once again. It begins when the flavored coffees make their annual return in late August and traditionally draws to a close once the unruly teens have finished smashing the last of the jack-o-lanterns around the neighborhood in early November. And right in the middle is the River Prairie Ginormous Pumpkin Festival in Altoona, Wisconsin.

As the name indicates, the annual event celebrates big ol’ pumpkins in all their splendor. And it’s happening again next Saturday.

There are a host of pumpkin-related events throughout the day, including a dessert contest, a dog costume contest, a human costume contest, as well as pumpkin decorating for kids. There is also a rubber duck race, an artist’s market, some footraces, and something called the Ginormous Pumpkin Drop, where a large pumpkin full of candy is smashed, and chaos ensues.

And, of course, there is a weigh-off, where area pumpkins compete to be named the most ginormous of them all. Winners can tip the scale at over 2,000 pounds. Apparently, that event really heats up in the late morning and early afternoon, so be careful not to peak too early.

There probably isn’t time for the average gardener to enter this year’s weigh-off. Even if you connect with that shady guy in the gym parking lot and buy some “supplements” or expose your pumpkin to radioactive material, it’s not going to grow fast enough to earn you a spot on the podium in a few short days. But you can go take in the sights, pick up a few pointers from the experts, and start figuring out how you’re going to fit that one-ton pumpkin into your sedan in 2025.

The festival runs from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on September 28th in River Prairie Park and is free to attend. You can learn more about the schedule at the event’s website.