The Circleville Pumpkin Show is the “Greatest Free Show on Earth,” set for Oct. 21-24. (Credit: Ken Drenten)

By Ken Drenten

If I were to provide a person new to Ohio a glimpse of what the state’s festivals are all about, I would steer them to our oldest festival, the Circleville Pumpkin Show.

The Pumpkin Show has been held every year since 1903, when the mayor of Circleville put up a small pumpkin-themed display in front of his house for residents to visit. The first parade was held in 1905, and a merry-go-round was added in 1906. The event grew steadily in the years that followed, and in August 1946 a non-profit group was formed to operate the festival.

This week Circleville holds its latest celebration of all things pumpkin, from Wednesday, Oct. 21 through Saturday, Oct. 24. Each year, some 400,000 people visit the event hosted by this city of around 12,000 people.

See scenes from a Circleville Pumpkin Show of the past, and some other views of Circleville, in this video. If this does not appear or operate, please use this link — https://youtube.com/shorts/sxCWVjdhjFs?feature=share

As in previous years, the streets of downtown Circleville will host parades every day of the festival. A total of seven parades are planned, featuring more than 50 marching bands.

In addition to more than 100,000 pounds of pumpkins, squash and gourds on the street display there are displays of canned goods, baked goods, flower show, fruits and vegetables and an art show in the Watt Street Pumpkin Show building. A Home Arts and Craft Show is also held.

There are also amusement rides, vendors, entertainment, Miss and Little Miss Pumpkin Show pageants, and the marquee event, judging of the largest pumpkins. Last year’s biggest pumpkin weighed 1,972 pounds; the biggest pumpkin ever judged at the show was 2,388.5 pounds in 2023.

FInd out more about Circleville and its famed candy shop in this video. If the link above does not appear or work, please use this link – https://youtu.be/LS_yfQ8uM0A

Many people come for the unique foods sold at the event. Most foods are pumpkin related — pies, donuts, cookies, burgers, taffy, ice cream, cake, soups, waffles, cream puffs, fudge, ice cream, milkshakes, and many other concoctions that can be made with pumpkin. Festival organizers estimate that 23,000 pumpkin pies and more than 100,000 pumpkin donuts are sold during the festival’s four-day run.

With all this going on, it’s wise to plan your visit well. Parking is at a premium in the downtown area, many streets are closed, and the area is extremely congested with both people and vehicles. Community groups provide shuttle service (by fee) to and from several parking areas that are beyond easy walking distance.

Ken Drenten is creator and editor of Dusty-Tires.com, a travel blog for out-of-the-ordinary places in Ohio.

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