World record challenge in sight as growers cross fingers; weigh-off Saturday

Will Warren pumpkins squash world record? Today's the day

EastBayRI.com ·

Pumpkin growers from across New England will be chasing a world record when they converge on Frerichs Farm Saturday for the Southern New England Giant Pumpkin Growers’ annual weigh-off, and  competition is expected to be … heavy.

Richard Wallace won last year’s contest with a massive, 2,261.5-pound pumpkin, good enough for a North American record. Still, many growers in online forums think this year’s crop has a reasonable chance to challenge the world record, set a few weeks after Wallace won last year in Warren. That pumpkin, weighed in at a German contest on Oct. 17, 2016, officially took the world record at 2,624.6 pounds.

What: Southern New England Giant Pumpkin Growers Association’s annual weigh-off

Where: Frerichs Farm, Kinnicutt Avenue, Warren

Date: Saturday, Oct. 7. Pumpkins start arriving at 9 a.m. Music runs from 9 a.m. to noon, with the official weighing starting at noon. There will be a giant pumpkin drop at 11:30 a.m.

What else: Lots of stuff for kids and adults including games, hay rides, food, crafts and more.

How much? It’s free. On-site parking is $5.

Rain date: Weather is supposed to be good but if that changes, rain dates are Sunday, Oct. 8 or Monday, Oct. 9.