The Circleville Pumpkin Show and 5 Must-Dos
The longest running annual event in the state of Ohio is dubbed “The Greatest Free Show on Earth.” The Circleville Pumpkin Show has been celebrating the community harvest for over a century. This annual event greets thousands of people from the third Wednesday through Saturday of October. “We are a community of just a little over 14,000 people and we will get over 400,000 people over the four days. It gives us a chance to show off,” Donald McIlroy, Mayor of Circleville said.
In 1903 the Circleville Pumpkin Show debuted with the intention of uniting the community. “The mayor decided it was time for the city people and the country people to get to know each other better. He set up a 30-foot table in front of his store on West Main Street, and that first year it was a big attraction,” Joanna “Jo” Liggett, Pumpkin Grower said. This may be an annual event but locals make it clear that is a show. “It’s a show of what we’ve got; it’s not a festival in the sense. It started to show people what we have in Circleville,” Dr. Robert “Bob” Liggett, Retired Optometrist, said.
Today visitors can expect all the pumpkin show is known for plus traditional festival attractions. There is so much to do at the Circleville Pumpkin Show but there are some things you need to know before you and five must-dos to include during your visit:
Things You Need to Know Before You Go
The Circleville Pumpkin Show is four days total. It begins the third Wednesday of October and concludes the following Saturday.
Parking is throughout the city but there is a charge; be sure to have cash.
Saturday is the biggest day of the event with visiting royalty from the whole state of Ohio. Expect traffic to be heavy and make plans to accommodate the flood of traffic.
Entries for parades, contests and pageants must be from the Pickaway County. The only exception is visiting royalty during the Queen’s Parade.
Pumpkin Food
The Circleville Pumpkin Show is a foodie, pumpkin lover heaven. There is pumpkin-flavored everything from donuts and ice cream to shredded chicken and pizza. One shop to check out, especially if you are gluten-free is Richie’s New York Corner Deli. The pumpkin cannoli are delicious. “The shells we get from a bakery in New York, they ship them to us and then we make the pumpkin cannoli cream. We drizzle chocolate on top of the shells, fill them with the pumpkin cannoli cream and dust them with powered sugar and our own blend of spices,” Richie Verito, Owner of Richie’s New York Corner Deli, said.
Pumpkin Carving
Taking an 800lb+ pumpkin and turning it into art is a sight to see. Gus Smithhisler was once a giant pumpkin grower and morphed his passion into a 20-year career in pumpkin carving as the Squash Carver. “I was cutting the seeds out with a big knife in the middle of August at a state fair and said ‘they’re pumpkins someone should carve them,’ they said ‘you have the knife go ahead,’” Gus Smithhisler said and he has been carving ever since.
Watch a Parade
There is a total of seven parades over the course of the event including the Baby Parade, Parade of Bands, Little Miss Pumpkin Show Parade, Miss Pumpkin Show Parade, Fraternal and Civic Organization Parade, Queen’s Parade and my personal favorite the Pet Parade. These parades range for 30-mintues to nearly two hours.
The World’s Largest Pumpkin Pie
Located in Lindsey’s Bakery is the world record Pumpkin Pie. It weighs nearly 400lbs and it conveniently located by the display window for visitors to see for themselves. Guests can also order pumpkin donuts, a local favorite. Due to the popularity there is often a long line but many say it is well worth the wait.
Take Photos with the Largest Pumpkins
A visit to the annual Circleville Pumpkin Show isn’t complete without a photo with the largest pumpkins. Reigning champions Dr. Bob and Jo Liggett have been setting records during the pumpkin weigh in. In 2023 they set a new state record with their pumpkin weighing 2,388.5lbs. The competition can get fierce and starts at an early age. “There is a little boy who was growing pumpkins this year and he asked his father ‘if I take my seeds here and plant them now do you think I’ll beat do you think I can beat Dr. Liggett next year,’” Jo Liggett recalled.
What started as an effort to unite the community is now a tradition nearly 400,000 people flock to. From pumpkin eats to fierce competition one thing is certain; it’s “The Greatest Free Show on Earth.”
Watch Finding Festivals at PBS.org.
Finding Festivals is independently produced by HayRobin Media Productions LLC.
Special thank you to Dead Shark Productions LLC (film crew), Micheal Desanto and WGTE.