Have you ever seen a one-ton pumpkin? Have you ever heard of giant pumpkins being carved into canoes and raced across a lake? The 29th annual Elk Grove Giant Pumpkin Festival will have all that and more!

Thousands of pumpkin enthusiasts flock to Elk Grove Park on the first full weekend in October to kick off the fall season at "Elk Grove GPF", the region's premier celebration of enormous gourds and all things pumpkin!

Schedule Of Events

October 7, 2023

Giant Pumpkin and Produce Contest

Weighing in at nearly one ton, you've never seen pumpkins like this before! Giant pumpkin growers from all over California and beyond will be vying for the top prize – and perhaps a world record – as each of their enormous gourds hit the scale. Enter your own produce or pumpkins for a chance to win cash prizes, or cheer from the stands as the monstrous orange orbs are moved with a forklift to a special scale.

Check-in: 7 am - 9 am
Weighing: 9 am - 3 pm
Awards Presentation: 4 pm
Load Pumpkins: 5:30 pm - 7 pm

Registration
Entry Fee
Register in advance: $10 (includes free parking and breakfast)
Register the day of: $25 entry fee + $10 parking fee

October 8, 2023

Pumpkin Regatta

For the 15th year at the festival, courageous seafarers will race their giant pumpkin boats across the lake in the Pumpkin Regatta. If you are over the age of 18, have access to a giant pumpkin, and think you have what it takes to cross the lake in these devious vessels, join us on the first weekend in October!

Giant thanks to the 2023 prize sponsors: Kids Care Dental & Orthodontics and Sky River Casino.

Check-in: 9 am
Starting position lottery: 11:25 am
Splash-in: 11:30 am
Race begins: 12 noon

Registration
Entry fee: $5
Advanced registration is required.
Participants must be age 18 or older.

Date:

October 7-8, 2023

Hours:

10 am - 5 pm

Location:

Elk Grove Park, 9950 Elk Grove-Florin Road
Elk Grove, CA 95624

Click here for Registration

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