Giant Pumpkin Breaks California Record

Blue skies and warm temperatures greeted the giant pumpkins early Monday as they came to Half Moon Bay to compete in the 39th Annual Safeway World Championship Pumpkin Weigh-Off.

Thad Starr, a previous winner, took first prize with a record breaking 1,775 pound pumpkin. At $6 per pound, Starr takes home $10,650.

The streets were lined with pickup trucks and trailers loaded with 4 tons of pumpkins for the contest.

Hundreds of people crowded to witness the event. The weigh-off signals the start of the annual Pumpkin Festival next weekend.

Other awards include:

• Largest Coastside Pumpkin - Farmer John Miller - 480 lbs
• Largest Pumpkin grown in California - John Hawkley from Napa - 1,480 lbs
• Most Beautiful Pumpkin - Eric Carlson from Portola Valley