Giant Pumpkin Contest Brings In Half-Ton Pumpkin

The cooler temperatures are a sure sign fall is here and hundreds celebrated the cooler weather at the Harvest Festival in Harrisburg Saturday.

And, it was no surprise that the annual giant pumpkin contest stole the show once again.

The pumpkins weighed anywhere between 500 to more than 1,000 pounds.

And while the drought hurt most pumpkins growers, the dry weather was helpful for others.

“With giant pumpkins, most people will tell you, you've got a lot of problems with diseases and fungus,” pumpkin farmer Cody Chaplin said. “With the lack of moisture this year, we didn't have to worry about that. But there were times that it was actually very hard to keep Wanda [the pumpkin's name], less than, I guess, extra thirsty.”

The winning pumpkin weighed 1,012 pounds.

The Harvest Festival continues throughout the weekend at the Country Apple Orchard in Harrisburg.

Here's are the winners:

1. Kevin Marsh - 1,012 pounds
2. George Witter and Judy Benson - 772 pounds
3. Cody and Brittany Chaplin - 678 pounds