World pumpkin weighing championship returns to Half Moon Bay

HALF MOON BAY, Calif. - Monday brought the return of the staple World Championship Pumpkin Weigh-Off to Half Moon Bay.

All the largest pumpkins visitors could ever see were on display at the 51st annual contest.

Organizers have called it the "Super Bowl" of weigh-offs. In 2023, last year's winning pumpkin, "Michael Jordan", set a world record, weighing at 2,749 pounds.

First-place winners get $9 per pound, and if they break the world record weight, they get an additional $30,000 in prize money. First-place winners are also awarded a Pumpkin King Champion Ring and two nights at the Ritz-Carlton in Half Moon Bay, among other prizes.

After the contest, the winning pumpkin will be on display at the Half Moon Bay Art & Pumpkin Festival from Oct. 19-20.

Who won the World Championship Pumpkin Weigh-Off?

Minnesota's Travis Gienger won the weigh-off for the second year in a row, with his pumpkin Rudy taking home the grand prize. Rudy weighed in at 2,471 pounds.

In June, Gienger didn't think he'd make it to the championship, so he named his pumpkin Rudy because it's a comeback story, FOX 9 reported.

Rudy wasn't a world record pumpkin, though. The world record is 2,749 pounds, set by Gienger's pumpkin Michael Jordan in 2023.

In 2022, Gienger grew Maverick the Pumpkin. At 2,560 pounds, it was carved into the world's largest jack-o-lantern.