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In 1964 the Barnesville community started the Barnesville Fall
Fair in the Catholic Church basement but the rapid growth called
for a change. They renamed the event the The Barnesville Pumpkin
Festival and took over the streets. What started out to be 300
in attendance soon grew to over 100,000 in attendance.
Each year the crowd travels from afar to see the "King Pumpkin"
weigh in, which $1.00 per pound is paid to the harvester of the
heaviest pumpkin. The most recent winner (2007) tipped the
scales at 1,289 1/2 lbs., which is our festival record.
The "King Pumpkin" is auctioned off on Saturday night of the
festival with the highest bidder takin custody of the pumpkin
for seven days to have it put on dislpy at their business. Once
the pumpkin is returned to the committee, the pumpkin is gutted
and seeds are divided, one half to the grower and one half to
the committee. The seeds are dried and packaged to be sold to
prospective growers. |
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Festival activities include carnival rides, a queen pageant , a classic
and antique car show, entertainment on two stages, talent show, hog
calling, tobacco-spitting ,fudge, pie baking ,pie eating, tall tale,
pumpkin rolling contests, pet show and a Giant pumpkin parade. marking
its 45th year, the 2008 event will be held on the streets of Barnesville
on September 25 - 28. Twenty-five Committees, comprising of 200 people,
work on the planning and implementation. Also involved in the
festivities are Barnesville civic organizations, and clubs who use the
event as their major fund -raiser. |
