Superstar pumpkin grower Joel Holland makes Tiger Woods look like a mere mortal. In 2006, Holland completed his second three-peat, obliterating the impressive field of contenders at Half Moon Bay's Safeway World Championship Pumpkin Weigh-Off with a titanic 1,223-pound beast. Holland returns this year to take on the World's Greatest Gourd Growers in Half Moon Bay's Heavyweight Championship on Monday, October 8, the kick-off to its world-famous Art & Pumpkin Festival which takes place October 18-19. 

Joel Holland celebrates his second three-peat at Half Moon Bay in 2006 12-year-old Amanda Zunino, the surprise runner-up in the 2006 Weigh-Off

As the sun rises on weigh-off morning, the streets around town will be lined with sagging, overloaded pick up trucks crammed with massive pumpkins quietly awaiting their place of destiny in the worldwide media spotlight or the Libby's canning factory. Their giant roots will be firmly planted in buckets of water to prevent weight-loss as fans ooh and aah and the sheer, stunning enormity of the gentle orbs.

Using forklifts and special harnesses, the gargantuan gourds will be carefully placed on a 5-ton capacity, industrial-strength digital scale under the watchful eye of officials from the San Mateo County Agricultural Commissioner's Office of Weights, Sealers, and Measures.

Some eighty contestants from throughout the west are expected to contend for the coveted title, a starring role in the Pumpkin Festival and a hefty share of the prize money. With a beefed-up top prize of $6 per pound at stake, the pay-by-the-pound system is expected to produce first place prize money of more than $7,000.

In all, about $20,000 in prize money will be awarded to the top ten heaviest overall and the top three heaviest from San Mateo County. Special prize money will be awarded to the heaviest pumpkins from California, the Half Moon Bay Coastside, and the San Mateo County Farm Bureau. Beauty will share the spotlight with brawn. A special $500 prize will be awarded to the “most beautiful pumpkin” as judged by the audience based on color, shape and size.

Kicking off Half Moon Bay's world-famous Art & Pumpkin Festival, the official weighing will begin at 7 a.m. on the I.D.E.S. Grounds, 735 Main Street. The grand champion pumpkin, along with several other monster pumpkins from the weigh-off, will be on display at the Art & Pumpkin Festival on October 18-19 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The weigh-off will be held from 7 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. For information on the weigh-off and festival, call 650-726-9652.