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Know Ohio: Circleville Pumpkin Show

It wouldn't be October without pumpkins...and these are bigger than your average jack-o-lantern!

In this week's Know Ohio, we take you to Circleville, for the 108th annual pumpkin show - and it's happening this week!

Located 25 miles south of Columbus, the Circleville Pumpkin Show was started by the city's mayor in 1903 and it's grown to attract more than 400,000 visitors each year. Reportedly Ohio's oldest and largest festival, this show has been called "the greatest free show on earth" and covers nearly nine city blocks. It kicks off with the much anticipated contest between local growers to see who will win the coveted giant pumpkin trophy. Recent pumpkins have weighed over 1,000 pounds! Last year's first place pumpkin weighed 1,315 pounds! But that wasn't enough to top 2009's record pumpkin which weighed about 300 pounds more.

And talk about big - Lindsey's Bakery cooks a pumpkin pie that measures nearly 6 feet in diameter. The giant pie is donated to local hogs after the festival.

Visitors can walk the streets and nearly every corner is covered with pumpkins, squash and gourds. But that's not all you'll see...
Two parades are held each day, and this year the Ohio State marching band will be joining in on the fun.

Several Ohio pumpkin growers are excited for the show. They say with perfect growing conditions in the state this year, we might just see a new record set.

stephanie.jarvis@ideastream.org | 216-916-6340