Community Corner

50th World Championship Pumpkin Weigh-Off: Photos

See photos from the Pumpkin Championship and the 2,749 pound pumpkin dubbed "Michael Jordan" that took home first prize.

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Travis Gienger of Anoka, Minn., holds his two-year-old daughter Lily and poses by his pumpkin called "Michael Jordan" after winning the Safeway 50th annual World Championship Pumpkin Weigh-Off in Half Moon Bay, Calif., Monday, Oct. 9, 2023.
Travis Gienger of Anoka, Minn., holds his two-year-old daughter Lily and poses by his pumpkin called "Michael Jordan" after winning the Safeway 50th annual World Championship Pumpkin Weigh-Off in Half Moon Bay, Calif., Monday, Oct. 9, 2023. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg)

HALF MOON BAY, CA — A Minnesota man won Monday's 50th World Championship Pumpkin Weigh-Off in Half Moon Bay. Travis Gienger of Anoka, Minnesota competed in the competition with his prized pumpkin dubbed "Michael Jordan" for its towering size. Gienger, a landscape and horticulture teacher at Anoka Technical College grows pumpkins in his backyard and has been competing in the Pumpkin Weigh-Off since 2020.

The winning pumpkin weighed in at a whopping 2,749 pounds beating the previous Guinness World record of a 2,702 squash in Italy. Gienger won a $30,000 prize for growing the largest pumpkin and breaking a world record.

The giant pumpkin will be on display in Half Moon Bay along with the runner-ups next weekend at the city's Art and Pumpkin Festival. Make sure to take a photo of yourself with the enormous gourd while you still can!

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REALTED: World's Largest Pumpkin Crowned In Half Moon Bay

See photos below from the 50th World Championship Pumpkin Weigh-Off.

Find out what's happening in Half Moon Bayfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Travis Gienger of Anoka, Minn., holds his two-year-old daughter Lily while looking at his pumpkin. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg)
"Michael Jordan," grown by Travis Gienger of Anoka, Minn., is displayed before being weighed at the Safeway 50th annual World Championship Pumpkin Weigh-Off. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg)
Brooks Taner lifts his six-year-old daughter Sevilen to take a closer look at a pumpkin before it was weighed. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg)
Pumpkins are transported to be weighed.(AP Photo/Eric Risberg)
People (and scarecrows) watch on as the pumpkins are weighed. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg)
Pumpkins are displayed before the onlookers. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg)
The final four pumpkins to be weighed are lifted up for the crowd. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg)
Travis Gienger of Anoka, Minn., reacts after winning the Safeway 50th annual World Championship Pumpkin Weigh-Off. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg)
Travis Gienger of Anoka, Minn., holds his two-year-old daughter Lily and poses behind his pumpkin called "Michael Jordan" after winning the Safeway 50th annual World Championship Pumpkin Weigh-Off in Half Moon Bay, Calif., Monday, Oct. 9, 2023. Gienger won the event with a pumpkin weighing 2749 pounds. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg)

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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