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Conveniently located just 30 minutes from Sacramento and the Sacramento Airport (SMF), Elk Grove offers visitors comfortable hotels surrounded by beautiful parks, local shops, and restaurants.
When & Where
The Elk Grove Giant Pumpkin Festival will be held on Saturday, October 4 and Sunday, October 5, 2025 from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. at Elk Grove Park. Parking will be available for $20, cash only.
Elk Grove Park
9950 Elk Grove-Florin Road,
Elk Grove, CA 95624
Watch the Giant Pumpkin & Produce Weigh-Off
On the first day of the festival attendees can watch as giant pumpkins are lifted by a forklift onto a specialized scale. Throughout the morning pumpkins and other produce will be weighed and measured. In the afternoon the award ceremony begins and awards are given to the farmers with the largest produce. Many giant pumpkins will weigh-in at nearly one ton each. Some previous winners have even set world records!
From Farm to Festival: The Agritourism Experience at Elk Grove’s Giant Pumpkin Festival
Learn more about pumpkin growing and the agritourism effects of the festival by reading our blog, featuring an in-depth chat with pumpkin farmer, Nick Kennedy!
Cheer for the pumpkin boat race
On the second day of the festival the giant pumpkins will be carved into boats and raced in the lake. The preparations begin in the early morning when the boats are carved. The pumpkins are then float tested just before the start of the race. Once the race begins, cheer for the pumpkins and see who crosses the finish line. The race concludes with a giant pumpkin drop where boats will be dropped into the water near Strauss Island.
Compete in a fall themed contest
The Giant Pumpkin Festival has multiple pumpkin and fall themed contests throughout the weekend. There is a contest available to every age group and everyone is welcome to participate, though advanced registration is required for most contests.
Lil’ Pumpkin Cupcake Contest
Children 12 and under are invited to bake and deliver four pumpkin cupcakes of their own creation to the festival and bring a copy of their original recipe. Judges will then sample the cupcakes and hand out prizes to winning contestants.
Pumpkin Recipe Contest
The Pumpkin Recipe Contest is an adult cooking and baking contest held during the festival. Contestants can enter one dish for each category. There will be two categories: sweet and savory. The dishes must utilize fresh or canned pumpkin as a key ingredient.
Scarecrow Contest
Artists of all ages may enter the Scarecrow Contest where they will make a display to be displayed in Scarecrow Alley throughout the weekend. The displays will need to follow the Autumn Memories theme. Every year the festival offers a new theme for artists to follow so annual visitors can enjoy new displays.
Youth Art Contest
The Youth Art Contest is split into 3 age groups, ages 3-6, 7-12, and 13-17 and gives young artists ample opportunities to win prizes during the festival. Artworks of all mediums depicting the year’s theme, Autumn Memories, will be displayed in the Art Walk area throughout the festival weekend.
