Half Moon Bay Art and Pumpkin Festival

The annual event is held in October. Columbus Day Monday is the Safeway World Champion Pumpkin Weigh-in contest. The Half Moon Bay Art and Pumpkin Festival is a two-day event held the following Saturday and Sunday, since 1971.

The COVID-19 pandemic caused 2020's cancellation; the 50th was deferred to 2021.[1]

The festival is located in downtown Half Moon Bay on Main Street between Miramontes and Spruce Streets. The Great Pumpkin Parade is held at noon on Saturday and runs east along Miramontes, North on Main St, and West on Mill Street. There are two music stages, one at the south entrance and one located next to the food court in the IDES grounds. A family stage is located at 620 Main Street. The associated Safeway World Championship Pumpkin Weigh-In is located on the IDES Grounds at 735 Main Street on Columbus Day, the Monday prior to the festival.

The Half Moon Bay Art and Pumpkin Festival began in 1971 with the formation of the Main Street Beautification Committee. The group was formed to raise funds for the revitalization of Main Street, which was beginning to show signs of decay. With an abundance of pumpkin patches in the area, the committee organized an old-fashioned harvest-style pumpkin festival. The first festival attracted 30,000 people. That year only one non-profit organization offered food for sale. The festival now includes dozens of local non-profit groups operating food and game booths, selling everything from pumpkin pie to linguisa sandwiches. Proceeds go to various civic and local causes and have included the construction of two parks, multiple scholarship funds, the installation of old-fashioned downtown street lights, the underground wiring of Main Street, and the renovation of City Hall.

Weight of the winning pumpkin in the weigh-off in Half Moon Bay, 1974–2019.

• The Safeway World Championship Pumpkin Weigh-Off attracts growers from around the United States. The weigh-off is held the Monday prior to the festival and the winners are on display during the festival weekend. The heaviest pumpkin ever to win the contest was the champion in 2017, which weighed 2,363 pounds (1,072 kg).

List of champion pumpkins: [2]

Year	Grower	Weight (pounds)
2019	Leonardo Urena, Napa CA	2,175
2018	Steve Daletas, Pleasant Hill OR	2,170
2017	Joel Holland, Sumner WA	2,363
2016	Cindy Tobeck, Little Rock WA	1,910
2015	Steve Daletas, Pleasant Hill OR	1,969
2014	John Hawkley, Napa CA	2,058
2013	Gary Miller, Napa CA	1,985
2012	Thad Starr, Pleasant Hill OR	1,775
2011	Leonardo Urena, Napa CA	1,704
2010	Ron Root, Citrus Heights CA	1,535
2009	Don Young, Des Moines IA	1,658
2008	Thad Starr, Pleasant Hill OR	1,528
2007	Thad Starr, Pleasant Hill OR	1,524
2006	Joel Holland, Puyallup WA	1,223
2005	Joel Holland, Puyallup WA	1,229
2004	Joel Holland, Puyallup WA	1,229
2003	Steve Daletas, Pleasant Hill OR	1,180
2002	Kirk Mombert, Harrisburg OR	1,173
2001	Steve Daletas, Pleasant Hill OR	1,016
2000	Kirk Mombert, Harrisburg OR	940
1999	Jon Hunt, Elk Grove CA	991
1998	Lincoln Mettler, Eatonville WA	974
1997	Sherry LaRue, Tenino WA	868
1996	Kirk Mombert, Harrisburg, OR	808
1995	Jack La Rue, Tenino WA	875
1994 (tie)	Joel Holland, Puyallup WA Pete Glasier, Sequim WA	696
1993	Joel Holland, Puyallup WA	740
1992	Joel Holland, Puyallup WA	722
1991	Cindi Glasier, Denver CO	602
1990	Tom Borchard, Salinas CA	544
1989	Mike Pezzini, Prunedale CA	530
1988	Tom Borchard, Salinas CA	432
1987	Tom Borchard, Salinas CA	429
1986	Arthur Quint, Castro Valley CA	526
1985	Arthur Quint, Castro Valley CA	438
1984	Norm Gallagher, Cheland WA	612
1983	Tom Borchard, Salinas CA	408
1982	Tom Borchard, Salinas CA	307
1981	Francis Collings, Petaluma CA	337
1980	Tom Borchard, Salinas CA	275
1979	Francis Collings, Petaluma VA	349
1978	Francis Collings, Petaluma CA	298
1977	Ray Chiesa, Half Moon Bay CA	200
1976	John Minaidis, Half Moon Bay CA	208
1975	John Minaidis, Half Moon Bay CA	273
1974	John Minaidis, Half Moon Bay CA	132

• Harvest inspired Arts and Crafts are represented by 250 artists and craftmakers. Original works are available in glass, ceramics, metals, fiber, leather, wood, jewelry and fine art.
• Food is a big item at the festival. Many food offerings include pumpkin such as pie, pancakes, bread, cheesecake, sausages, and ice cream. Local coastal favorites include Brussels sprouts, artichoke hearts, and Portuguese linguisa sandwiches. All food is provided by community non-profit groups.
• The Great Pumpkin Parade features the weigh-off champion pumpkin, marching bands, classic cars, and costumed children of all ages.
• Continuous entertainment is located on three stages throughout the festival. A variety of music is available from Country, to Blues, to Reggae.
• Family entertainment includes a costume contest, pumpkin carving, games, and a pie eating contest.
• Giant pumpkin carving is provided by Farmer Mike, a professional pumpkin carver that turns giant pumpkins (up to a thousand pounds) into faces and reliefs. Farmer Mike has carved at the event for 25 years.
• Local wine and microbrews offer wine and beer by the glass.
• Other attractions include a Sunday Pumpkin Run/Walk, a talent show, a pancake breakfast, giant pumpkin photos, a poster contest exhibit, and a haunted house.

The popular event attracts more than 200,000 people to this rural community. Major access from the greater San Francisco Bay Area is from Highway 92 to the east. North/South access from San Francisco or Santa Cruz is available using coastal Highway 1. The festival, combined with multiple pumpkin patches surrounding the town, generate severe traffic congestion each year.[3] Parking is limited to side streets or paid parking in lots sponsored by local organizations.

• Miramar Events - official HMB Art and Pumpkin Festival web site
• http://www.halfmoonbaychamber.org/visiting_hmb/greatpumpkins.html