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The 30th Annual Half Moon Bay Pumpkin Festival is expecting more than 200,000 visitors over this weekend. And today, at the Safeway World Championship Pumpkin Weigh Off in Half Moon Bay, locals are wagering that someone may just top last year's record.
The last year Pumpkin Weigh off honors were taken by a farmer named Jon Hunt whose prize pumpkin weighed in at 990 lb..
This year, as in every year, the Pumpkin Weigh Off is just the beginning of the season for the 12 or so pumpkin producers in Half Moon Bay, and area residents who for the last 30 years have hosted the two-day Pumpkin Festival.
It is also a special time of the year for hoards of families who venture to Half Moon Bay during the month of October to pick Pumpkins off the vines at area pumpkin farms, take hay rides, or just take the opportunity to get out of the city.
"Half Moon Bay is known for pumpkins. You can get them from the farms. It's a lot more fun than going to the grocery store," said Deborah Cozzolino of 4C's Pumpkin Farm. After pumpkin season, the Cozzolino family - 4C's consist of twin brothers Jim and John Cozzolino and their two wives Diana and Deborah - move a little further down on their property where they run the 4C's Christmas Tree farm.
It is not uncommon for local farmers to work the two seasons one after the other. "A lot of guys in the pumpkin business are also in the Christmas tree business," said Tim Beeman, publicist for the festival.
Beeman added that October is a tremendously popular time for Half Moon Bay. And that the proceeds earned during the festival, which began as a fundraiser to refurbish some of the older buildings in Half Moon Bay, go toward a variety of nonprofits. The Festival has garnered $1.4 million in the past 30 years, which has been donated directly back into the community of Half Moon Bay.
"It's kind of cool. A low-tech, day in the country, get away for families," Beeman added. There are roughly 12 of commercial growers that produce 3 thousand tons of pumpkins each year. They ship them internationally.
"I call it the good karma festival because everybody's happy and in a good mood. It sounds corny but pumpkins bring out the best in people,"
Beeman said.
There will be three stages of entertainment, food and plenty of rides and games for children. All food venders are local and represent different nonprofit organizations.
"Let's face it is really the only agriculturally based economy left in the Bay Area," Beeman added, noting the uniqueness of Half Moon Bay. "Agriculture has always been a big part of half moon bay. And pumpkins have always been a big part of the agriculture."
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