ELK GROVE, CA (MPG) - This weekend, the Elk Grove Giant Pumpkin Festival returns bigger and better than ever to celebrate its 30th anniversary, marking three decades as Elk Grove's favorite fall tradition.

Giant-pumpkin growers from across California and beyond will be competing for a $7,000 top prize — and perhaps a world record — as they bring their enormous orange gourds to the scales in Elk Grove Park on Saturday, Oct. 5.

For 30 years, this festival has drawn growers and families alike, making it a cherished event for the entire community. Each October, growers load up their colossal pumpkins and head to the Cosumnes Community Services District’s annual celebration, hoping to carve their names into local history. Last year’s winner, Russ Pugh of Eugene, Ore., captured the top prize with his impressive 1,941-pound giant.

This year, growers are eyeing the world record set by Travis Gienger, whose 2,749-pound pumpkin made headlines at the Safeway World Championship weigh-off in Half Moon Bay last October.

But it’s not just about the pumpkins; it’s about the memories made. The international weigh-off kicks off a weekend packed with family fun, including carnival rides, arts and crafts, local vendors, food trucks, live entertainment and, of course, the iconic Pumpkin Regatta. Watch as 500- to 800-pound pumpkins are hollowed out and transformed into boats, then paddled across the pond starting at noon on both Saturday and Sunday.

“We are thrilled to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Giant Pumpkin Festival,” said Cosumnes Community Services District Board President Jim Luttrell. “It’s amazing to see how this small pumpkin weigh-off has grown into a community favorite and an event that generations of Elk Grove families look forward to every year.”

The 30th Elk Grove Giant Pumpkin Festival is open to the public from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Oct. 5 and 6 in Elk Grove Park, 9950 Elk Grove-Florin Road. Admission is free, and parking costs $20 per vehicle (cash only).