Ohio's oldest and largest festival, the Circleville Pumpkin Show, began Wednesday and runs through Saturday, Oct. 18.
The street festival, celebrating its 102nd anniversary, is an annual celebration of autumn harvest, focusing on the pumpkin.
Circleville is a Central Ohio city of around 13,000 people located 25 miles south of Ohio State's campus.
Some of the pumpkin-related oddities on sale include pumpkin pizza, tacos, taffy, burgers, waffles and fudge. More traditional pumpkin fares such as pumpkin donuts and pumpkin ice cream are also available.
For more than 50 years, bakers at Lindsey's Bakery in Circleville have created the annual "world's largest" pumpkin pie for display at the Pumpkin Show. Cassie McFarland, an employee at the bakery, listed the ingredients used in the pie. "Ninety-six pounds of cooked pumpkin, 44 pounds of sugar, 16 gallons milk, 15 dozen eggs, 4 pounds corn starch, 24 ounces pumpkin spice, 24 ounces salt and 36 pounds pie dough," she said. The pie bakes for six hours and then cools for another six hours. When finished, the pie measures between five and six feet in diameter, she said.
After an opening ceremony, the festival kicks off with the Giant Pumpkin Weigh-In, to see who has grown the biggest pumpkin. Last year Bob and Jo Liggett's pumpkin was crowned king of the pumpkins. The pumpkin weighed in at 1,524.5 pounds.
There is also a contest for the prettiest pumpkin, as well as the "Best Freak" and "10 Best Warties" awards. Only pumpkins grown within a 17-mile radius of Circleville are eligible for the competitions.
David Leighty, an art major, has gone to the Pumpkin Show every year since he moved to Columbus to pick out a pumpkin for carving a jack-o-lantern.
"I try to find pumpkins that look different from the normal orange ones that we associate with Halloween," Leighty said.
Pumpkins may reign as kings of the festival, but Circleville also honors its queens. Young women compete for the title of "Miss Pumpkin Show" and "Little Miss Pumpkin Show." After the winners are crowned, each group has a parade in their honor.
Other entertainment options include crafts tables and carnival rides. Three stages are set up in the festival area for live music performances. Gospel singers and area high school bands also perform over the course of the festival.
For a schedule of Circleville Pumpkin Show events, visit Circleville Pumpkin Show. Admission to the festival is free.
Libby Zay can be reached at zay.3@osu.edu
is a member of the 
Be the first to comment on this article!