King Pumpkin Weighs 1,588 Pounds!
Bill Neptune grew the 1,588 pound 2019 King Pumpkin.
The 56th Annual Barnesville Pumpkin Festival Giant Pumpkin Weigh-Off was held Wednesday, Sept. 25. This year’s King Pumpkin was a 1,588-pound behemoth grown by Bill Neptune of New Concord, Ohio. Neptune is no stranger to the Pumpkin Festival contest, having claimed the title of King in 2009 (1,503 pounds), 2010 (1,479 pounds), and 2014 (2,008 pounds)!
With all the rain earlier this summer, growing conditions for the giant pumpkins were not favorable this year. 2017 winners and current state record holders Todd and Donna Skinner of Barnesville, who grew a 2,150 pound pumpkin, did not enter a pumpkin this year. Neptune also said that he was unsure he would have a viable entry this year due to the growing conditions. As the winner, Neptune receives $2 per pound, plus $100 as the largest “locally grown” pumpkin. Locally grown pumpkin are those grown in Belmont, Guernsey, Harrison, Jefferson, Monroe, and Noble counties.
Second place was Daniel Stephens of Barnesville with a 1,475-pound pumpkin. Stephens had the King Pumpkin in 2015 that weighed 1,486 pounds. The 1,329-pound third place winner was Chuck Greathouse.
There was a huge crowd for the Pumpkin Commonwealth weigh-off this year. Even though the festival officially began on Thursday, Sept. 26 and runs through Sunday, Sept. 29, the weigh-off is considered the unofficial start of the festival and is the favorite of local residents. Check out a live feed of the weigh-off on our Facebook page – https://www.facebook.com/belmontcountytourism/videos/2207736499526896/
The free, four-day event includes many contests, a giant parade, 5K race, food, crafts, rides and games, car show, live entertainment, agriculture and horticulture displays, talent show, and much more.
See our “Top 5 Things to Do at the Barnesville Pumpkin Festival” blog on this website.
