1-ton pumpkin, costumes at 48th annual Art and Pumpkin Festival in Half Moon Bay

The 48th annual Half Moon Bay Art and Pumpkin Festival Oct. 13-14. Photo: Leigh Martinez 

The mega pumpkins are back at the 48th annual Art and Pumpkin Festival in Half Moon Bay, but they pale in comparison to the one named Goliath.

“This year’s winning pumpkin was 2,170 pounds give or take, from Oregon,” said Cameron Palmer, president of the festival. 

The festival features a parade, numerous art vendors and pre-Halloween costumes. “I love to see the kid’s costumes, but some of the adults get kind of crazy, too,” said Kathleen Davis, of Union City. “I just like all of the dressing up. Everyone seems to lose their inhibitions.”

You can certainly find an abundance of pumpkins, but there’s also an array of organizations present to raise funds for several nonprofits. The president of the festival added there’s no commercial vendors, so all of the food is prepared by local nonprofits. Plus, you can find plenty of pumpkin flavored everything. 

The festival runs both Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.