Pumpkin Festival returns for 11th year

NORWICH – The world record for largest pumpkin stands at 1,725 pounds; a 1,089-pounder will be on display Saturday at the 11th Annual Norwich Pumpkin Festival.

Standing about waist high on a 6-foot-tall person, the giant pumpkin was grown by Matt VerSchneider, a resident of Freeville in Tompkins County. It recently took second place at the Great CNY Pumpkin Festival in Oswego. He’ll also be displaying two others – they weigh in at 900.5 and 612 pounds.

“My brother and dad saw the first pumpkin that broke the world record back in 1996,” said VerSchneider, referring to then record holder’s Nathan Zehr of Lowville, the first person to break the 1,000 pound mark. “That was my original inspiration. I thought if they could do it, then I can do it.”

The Pumpkin Festival, held in the city’s East and West parks, begins at noon Friday and runs until Saturday night.

Organizers have brought in roughly 1,000 pumpkins to be carved and lit. They’re also encouraging members of the community to bring their own. Carving stations will be available for large groups.

“It’s a nice festival for all ages,” said longtime volunteer and Entertainment Coordinator Marilyn Oliver. “It’s a free, fun, family event. And it’s great to see kids bring in pumpkins and be a part of it.”

VerSchneider says he grows about five giants per year. It takes about five months from start to finish. For weigh offs and other events, he loads them with a device made from seatbelts and a portable basketball hoop. Before they go bad, he’ll carve them for Halloween and give them to his neighbors.

“People are always full of questions, in awe, when they see them,” he said. “They ask, ‘How did you do that?’”

Throughout the festival, the thousands of pumpkins will be arranged on a pyramid of scaffolds at the center of town and on shelves along the street. At dusk Saturday, they’ll be lit, and the event will conclude with an official pumpkin tally at 9 p.m., followed by a fireworks show.