The Biggest Pumpkin in Circleville History Just Weighed In at 2,455 Pounds

This past week in Circleville, Ohio, the Pumpkin Show did what it's been doing since 1903 — shut down the middle of town, piled the streets with gourds, and weighed something enormous. Only this time, the scale read a number nobody there had ever seen: the show crowned its 2026 winner and the largest pumpkin of all time on Wednesday, when the top prize went to Troy VanArsdalen, whose pumpkin weighed in at 2,455 pounds, as reported by WHIO on October 23.

What happened

The weigh-off kicks off the festival every year, and this one rewrote the record book. VanArsdalen's gourd shattered the show's running record of 2,388.5 pounds, set by Bob and Jo Liggett in 2023. For scale, this year's winner was just the third in Circleville history to top one ton. Second place went to Pete Bowers with a 1,709-pound pumpkin, and David Beyer rounded out the top three at 1,657 pounds. These things don't get carried to the scale, either — an excavator lifted the pumpkins and moved them to the scale in downtown Circleville.

The best part is the family angle

Here's the detail that makes it more than a big-vegetable story. The Scioto Post reported that VanArsdalen's 10-year-old grandson, Able, earned fourth place with a pumpkin weighing 1,553 pounds — especially impressive considering he's only in his second year of growing giant pumpkins, after an entry that weighed a little over 600 pounds last year. A kid who more than doubled his pumpkin in one year, standing next to his grandfather's all-time record. That's how a 123-year-old tradition stays alive: somebody hands it down.

Why Circleville matters

The Pumpkin Show isn't just old — it's the standard-bearer. Held in Circleville, about 30 miles south of Columbus, it's considered the biggest festival in the United States dedicated to the pumpkin, billed as The Greatest Free Show On Earth. The first show was held in 1903, when Mayor George Haswell decided to host an event that invited both country folks and city dwellers together — which is still basically the whole idea. This year's event was expected to bring in 400,000 people over four days, in a town you can walk across in twenty minutes. The official show site notes that more than 100,000 pounds of pumpkins, squash, and gourds are on display during the festival, alongside baked goods, crafts, and an art show.

If you grew up anywhere in Ohio, you know the feeling this festival bottles up: a downtown closed to traffic, waffle steam in the cold air, and the whole county showing up at once. It's the same spirit behind our Ohio collection — pride in a place where the biggest news of the week can be a pumpkin, and everybody agrees that's exactly as it should be.

Go see it (and mark your calendar)

This year's show just wrapped, but the date for next year is already set: the 120th Circleville Pumpkin Show will be held October 20–23, 2027, and it's always held the third Wednesday through Saturday in October. Admission is free. Circleville sits on US Route 23 about 25 miles south of Columbus, and if you're traveling Route 23, it's impossible to miss the exits for the Pumpkin Show. Go hungry, stay for the weigh-off, and wear your Ohio State Pride Tee so the locals know you're one of them — or at least trying to be.

Common questions

How big was the record pumpkin, really?

The winning pumpkin weighed 2,455 pounds — roughly the weight of a compact car. It broke the previous record of 2,388.5 pounds, set in 2023.

Does it cost anything to attend the Pumpkin Show?

No. The show is billed as The Greatest Free Show On Earth, and attendance has topped 400,000 for the four-day event, which is free to enter.

Is this really Ohio's oldest festival?

Yes — the official show website calls the Circleville Pumpkin Show Ohio's oldest festival, with roots going back to that first gathering in 1903.

Reported by WHIO. Details as published at the time of writing.