CIRCLEVILLE, Ohio — A massive pumpkin weighing 2,455 pounds stole the spotlight Wednesday morning as the 2026 Circleville Pumpkin Show kicked off with a new record that crushed the competition and rewrote the festival’s history.
Pumpkin grower Troy Vanarsdalen claimed the top spot with his enormous entry, shattering the previous Circleville Pumpkin Show record of 1,355.5 pounds set by Dr. Leggit several years ago. Vanarsdalen also surpassed last year’s winning pumpkin, grown by Mike Helberg, which weighed 1,972 pounds.
The four-day celebration of all things pumpkin has been a Circleville tradition since 1903. To qualify for the giant pumpkin competition, entries must be grown within a 25-mile radius of downtown Circleville.
Behind the massive pumpkins is months of dedication. Growers say preparing a pumpkin for competition requires approximately six months of daily attention, a commitment Vanarsdalen described as a “full-time, part-time job.”
For Vanarsdalen, however, pumpkin growing is about more than setting records. It has become a family affair, with his grandsons joining him in the pursuit of growing giant pumpkins.
His 10-year-old grandson, Able, earned fourth place in this year’s competition with a pumpkin weighing 1,553 pounds. The accomplishment is especially impressive considering Able is only in his second year of growing giant pumpkins. Last year, his entry weighed a little over 600 pounds.
Vanarsdalen, who has been growing competition pumpkins for just three years, said he has relied heavily on the knowledge and support of other local growers to help him and his grandsons learn the craft.
Their success highlights the family connections and community support that help keep the giant pumpkin tradition alive in Pickaway County.
With a record-breaking 2,455-pound pumpkin and a fourth-place finish for his grandson, Vanarsdalen’s family has plenty to celebrate as the Circleville Pumpkin Show continues throughout the week.
