Joseph Baird celebrates his winning 1,673-pound pumpkin during the annual Skagit Valley Giant Pumpkin Festival contest at Christianson’s Nursery. The 16th annual festival drew record crowds and giant gourds. Photo by Nancy K. Crowell/La Conner Community News
The 16th Giant Pumpkin Festival was Christianson’s Nursery’s biggest yet, drawing a crowd so large that parking was bursting at the seams. “We’re learning our capacity today!” said Emma Christianson.
Growers from across Washington competed in several categories, including the largest pumpkin. Visitors voted for the ugliest pumpkin and guessed the weight of the winner before the final weigh-in.
Jenny Miller drove four hours from Omak to participate and missed joining the “1,000 pound club” by a whisker as her pumpkin weighed in at 999.5 pounds. The crowd groaned.
Emcee Lee Roof kept the crowd entertained with cringeworthy dad jokes and interesting facts about the competition.
The competition is governed by the Pacific Northwest Giant Pumpkin Growers Association, led by President Geoff Gould, who won the largest field pumpkin category with an entry grown in Skagit.
To learn more about growing giant pumpkins and other large vegetables, visit the Pacific Northwest Giant Pumpkin Growers Association website at pnwgpg.com.
Nancy K. Crowell is a photographer, photo editor, and general assignment reporter for La Conner Community News.
Correction: A previous version of this story incorrectly stated that Jenny Miller drove four miles from Omak, she drove four fours. La Conner Community News regrets the error.
