Thad Starr's giant pumpkin really began putting on weight in August. A lot of weight.

The pumpkin gained about thirty pounds a day on its way to victory Monday at the 35th annual Safeway World Championship Pumpkin Weigh-off in Half Moon Bay.

Starr's pumpkin finished at 1,528 pounds, beating the contest record he set last year by four pounds.

"We really pamper them," Starr, 41, of Pleasant Hill, Oregon, said about the pumpkins he raises, adding that the secret to growing big pumpkins is good soil.

Starr, a stay-at-home dad, said he also sought advice from other growers in his area before growing and harvesting his winning pumpkin for the second year in a row.

Tim Beeman, a spokesman for the contest, said Starr's pumpkin was four feet, four inches tall with a circumference of about 15 feet.

Starr beat out dozens of other west coast growers from Washington, Oregon and California. Beeman said seven pumpkins came in at more than 1,000 pounds.

Forklifts were used to place the giant gourds on a 5-ton, industrial-strength scale. Starr said he bought a trailer to transport his giant gourd.

At $6 a pound for the winning pumpkin, Starr is taking home more than $9,000.

The giant gourd and other large pumpkins will be on display at the Half Moon Bay Art & Pumpkin Festival on the city's historic Main Street this upcoming weekend, Oct. 18 and 19, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Beeman said Half Moon Bay holds the festival as the World Pumpkin Capital, producing more than 3,000 tons of pumpkins ever year and shipping them around the world.

"We're just bursting out in orange here," Beeman said.

Half Moon Bay boasts beautiful fall weather along with the pumpkin harvest-inspired food, decorations and activities, he said.

"The festival itself to me, I call it the feel good festival because everyone is happy and in a great festive mood," Beeman said.

Pumpkin pancakes, cheesecakes, pies and other goodies will be sold along with other food and drink during the festival, also famed for the pie eating contest, expert pumpkin carver, costume contest and variety of harvest-inspired arts and crafts.

With food, beverage, parking and games run by local non-profit and community groups, the festival is also a fundraiser. Beeman said the groups raise about $500,000 from operations during the pumpkin weekend.

"It's a very special event," Beeman said. "It means a lot to the community."

Labels: Pumpkin, Weigh-Off