Ridgefield's Giant Pumpkin Weigh Off and Festival is celebrating a milestone...10 years of giant pumpkins in Ridgefield! See the giant pumpkins take over Ballard Park in Ridgefield on Sunday, September 25th from 10am-3pm!
The Connecticut Giant Pumpkin Growers Club is excited to see the community come together again this year to enjoy the giant pumpkins and festival! In addition to giant pumpkins, there is something for everyone. Vendors include farm stands, local business, community groups, and more! Many of our vendors have fun children's activities planned.
Henny Penny will be back again this year with their amazing farm animals. Musical performances will take place during the day. If you are hungry, we've got you covered. Grab a waffle from Waffle Cabin or pizza from Genoa's pizza truck and stay for the whole day!
Decorate a pumpkin at home and bring it to Ballard Park to enter in the pumpkin decorating contest! Pumpkins can be carved or decorated. Invite your friends to join you at the weigh off and you can all vote for your favorite decorated pumpkins!
You may be wondering - what exactly is a pumpkin weigh off? Growers bring their giant pumpkins, grown in New England, NY, PA, NJ on pickup trucks and trailers to Ballard Park. The pumpkins are lifted off the trucks and lined up in the park until the weighing begins. A large scale is set up by the gazebo. The pumpkins are measured to estimate their weight (some will go heavy, some will go light) and then weighed in order of expected lightest to expected heaviest. Plaques, ribbons, and cash prizes are awarded to the winners. In addition to giant pumpkins, growers will bring giant green squash, long gourds, field pumpkins, marrows, bushel gourds, and giant tomatoes to compete for awards in those categories. Come early and watch the giants get unloaded from their trucks. Try to guess which one you think will be the heaviest. Weighing begins at noon in front of the gazebo!
The Giant Pumpkin Weigh Off Festival is made possible by the generous support of our sponsors: Agriventures Agway Danbury, Hollandia Nurseries, inRidgefield.com, Macaroni Kid Greater Danbury, Ridgefield's HamletHub, Ridgefield Parks & Rec, Ridgefield Overhead Doors, Squash's Ridgefield Office Supply. Special thanks to Ridgefield High School student, Madalen Brown for creating the new 10th anniversary pumpkin weigh off logo.
Stay up to date by following The Giant Pumpkin Weigh Off on Facebook here.
Pumpkin Decorating Contest from 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM in Ballard Park
Drop off your pumpkin entry at the Pumpkin Decorating Booth in Ballard Park between 10am and 11am. You can vote for your favorite pumpkin from 11:00 am to 1:45 pm. Winners and prize ribbons will be announced at 2:00 pm. Pumpkin pick up after 2:00 pm.
Judging Categories
Pick of the Patch - 1st place
Pumpkin Bumpkin - 2nd place
Jovial Jack O’Lantern - 3rd place
*For the rules, please click on image #3.