The 38th annual Port Elgin (Saugeen Shores) Pumpkinfest is over for another year and, with one of the warmest on record, thousands came out to take in the activities on September 30th and October 1st.
The award-winning festival is also one of many in the world weigh-off stations for giant vegetables.
The most anticipated event of the weekend is the giant vegetable weigh-off where Atlantic pumpkins, squash, bushel gourds, tomatoes, watermelons, cabbages, marrows and more are weighed, as the audience waits in excitement to see the winner of each category. Growers come from Ontario, Quebec, Michigan, New York and Ohio with their giant produce that brings gasps of astonishment from the crowds.
This year’s giant pumpkin winner, grown by John Butler weighed in at 1,596.5 lbs.
Although his personal best in the past was 1,624 lbs., Butler said this year’s entry was “… the prettiest one I have ever grown. The colour and shape are perfect.”
Butler also won for his giant tomato at 5.8 lbs. and his sunflower at 315 inches (or 800.10cm).
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There were many winners who have come every year to compete in the weigh-off. Jeff Warner, for instance, who won for his giant cabbage of 8.3.5 lbs. and also won for his field pumpkin of 127 lbs. and his sunflower face measuring 23.5 in. in diameter, comes from Englehart in northwest Ontario, near Kirkland Lake, almost 600km away.
Closer to home, are Bob and Elaine Mackenzie of Tiverton, who grow their giants every year and, this year, who won in two categories with their watermelon at 157.5 lbs. and a marrow at 124.5 lbs.
2023 Weigh-off Winners
In the Young Growers Program, sponsored by the local Home Hardware, Andy Jacobi of Southampton and Aislyn McSimon-Maxemink of Port Elgin have both become young enthusiasts of growing. Aislyn won for tallest sunflower at 157 in. and sunflower face at 18in. and Andy came in a close 2nd in the categories. The Young Growers Program encourages young people to become involved in agriculture and become connected with the land.
