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The Independent
· collected 2026-10-12 · by Terry Chea and Olga R. Rodriguez
A man from Minnesota named Travis Gienger is driving 30 hours to compete in the World Championship Pumpkin Weigh-Off in Half Moon Bay, California, with a car-sized pumpkin he grew in his backyard. Gienger aims to challenge the current world record of 2,857 pounds set by Ian Paton in England last week. The event includes at least 30 competitors and offers an additional $30,000 prize for breaking the world record.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-12,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Growers of giant pumpkins will gather in Half Moon Bay, south of San Francisco on Monday for the 53rd World Championship Pumpkin Weigh-Off. At least 30 growers have registered for the competition, aiming to win top awards and challenge a world record set just last week in England. Among the competitors is Travis Gienger from Minnesota, who is a four-time champion but missed last year's event due to his pumpkin splitting during growth. This year, despite navigating freezing temperatures, Gienger produced a pumpkin with a circumference large enough to potentially break the world record. He plans to drive for 30 hours over the weekend with his father to transport the small-car-sized pumpkin to California.
Written for “Pumpkin Driving Record Attempt” on 2026-10-12,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
Growers of giant pumpkins and their colossal gourds will gather on Monday in Northern California for an annual weighing competition, vying for the top award and a chance to challenge a world record set just last week in England.
asserted
Growers → gather → England
At least 30 growers have registered for the 53rd World Championship Pumpkin Weigh-Off in Half Moon Bay, south of San Francisco, according to event spokesman Ronan Fowler.
uncertain
growers → register → Fowler
Among those competing is four-time champion Travis Gienger, a horticulture teacher from Minnesota whose winning run ended last year when he couldn't enter because his pumpkin split while still growing.
asserted
pumpkin → compete → Minnesota
Gienger, who navigated freezing temperatures this growing season, produced a pumpkin with a circumference large enough to make it a potential world-record contender, Fowler said.
asserted
Fowler → navigate → circumference
Fowler mentioned last week that Gienger and his father intended to alternate behind the wheel during a 30-hour drive over the weekend to deliver the small-car-sized pumpkin to California.
asserted
Gienger → mention → California
Ian Paton of Lymington, on the southern coast of England, set the existing world record with a giant squash weighing 2,857 pounds (1,296 kilograms).
asserted
Paton → set → pounds
That figure exceeds the combined weight of two and a half concert grand pianos.
asserted
figure → exceed → pianos
Paton raises his massive gourds in a greenhouse, while Gienger cultivates his entries in a backyard pumpkin patch in Anoka, a city along the Mississippi River north of Minneapolis, Fowler noted.
asserted
Fowler → raise → Minneapolis
"The fact that Travis can weather the elements, like 30-degree weather, and still grow this massive pumpkin is pretty unbelievable," the spokesman said.
asserted
spokesman → weather → pumpkin
Brandon Dawson, a resident of Santa Rosa, California, who won first place last year with a massive pumpkin weighing 2,346 pounds (1,064 kilograms), will also compete in the contest.
asserted
who → win → contest
The winning grower this year will earn $9 for each pound of pumpkin and will have their giant gourd displayed during a parade through Half Moon Bay over the weekend.
asserted
gourd → win → weekend
Should the winning entry surpass the world record, the competitor will receive an additional $30,000 prize.
asserted
competitor → win → prize
Monday's proceedings, which mark the beginning of the city's autumn celebrations, will also feature a special appearance by pumpkin carver Mike Valladao.
asserted
which → mark → Valladao
However, these giant gourds are grown for size rather than flavor, so no oversized pumpkin pies will be served at the end of the event.
asserted
pies → grow → event
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