Giant Pumpkin Breaks California Record [PHOTOS]

Blue skies and warm temperatures greeted the giant pumpkins early Monday morning as they came to Half Moon Bay to compete in the 39th Annual Safeway World Championship Pumpkin Weigh-Off.

Thad Starr, a previous winner, took first prize with a record breaking 1,775 pound pumpkin. At $6 per pound, Starr takes home $10,650.

The streets were lined with pickup trucks and trailers loaded heavy with 4 tons of pumpkins for the annual event.

Hundreds of people crowded the IDES grounds to witness the event. The weigh-off signals the start of the annual Pumpkin Festival next weekend.

Other awards include:

• Largest Coastside Pumpkin - Farmer John Miller - 480 lbs
• Largest Pumpkin grown in California - John Hawkley from Napa - 1,480 lbs
• Most Beautiful Pumpkin - Eric Carlson from Portola Valley

Entertainment included Jim Stevens singing his orginal songs on stage and the Half Moon Bay High School Band led by John Evans.

Cameron Palmer was the Master of Ceremonies.

See you at the 2012 Half Moon Bay Art and Pumpkin Festival, next weekend, October 13 and 14!

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