×
X logo

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox.

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)

You may opt-out anytime by clicking "unsubscribe" from the newsletter or from your account.

Pumpkin Festival Promises a ‘Gourd’ Time in Barnesville

The village of Barnesville will soon be overflowing with people celebrating the harvest season during the annual Barnesville Pumpkin Festival from Wednesday through Sunday.

John Rataiczak has been known as the “Voice of the Festival” since 2017, when he took on the duties of announcer, and he looks forward to welcoming visitors and broadcasting events.

“This will be the 55th running of the event, and it features so many things,” he said. “There are going to be more amusement rides. … I think the kids are really going to enjoy the new rides.”

He said some added land about the size of a lot was acquired and will allow for some more space for carnival rides while keeping the flow of people moving. One of the most anticipated events is the selection of the King Pumpkin, the heaviest gourd in the Wednesday evening competition.

“It’s still a street fair of significant size, and it would feature a weigh-in on Wednesday night, and the car show which is on Sunday. The big Pumpkin Parade, which is always a big favorite, is Saturday at 2 p.m,” Rataiczak said.

He added that many people from a wide area attend, which means Barnesville is marked on many a person’s map.

“To me, personally, it’s very exciting because I think of the numbers over the course of the week — 100,000 people come to the village of Barnesville. So many of them come year after year after year,” he said. “It has become a tradition for so many people after lasting 55 years. They know it’s that time of year they come to Barnesville. It seems no matter where I travel, I say where I work and they say, ‘Isn’t that where the Pumpkin Festival is?’

“All ages love it. The young folks love it, and it seems interesting to me that some of my younger friends who came here as a kid can’t wait to come back and bring their kids. It’s an exciting time in Barnesville. People are here all week long from beginning to end, and I think they like the old-fashionedness of the town,” Rataiczak said.

He added that many people enjoy old-fashioned games and activities such as the hog-calling contest and pie-baking contest.

“I would say they definitely come from all over Ohio, West Virginia and Pennsylvania,” he said, adding that this includes many with roots in the area who have since moved away, only to have the festival remain as a touchstone for home.

“It has always been quite the homecoming for the people of Barnesville. The people of Barnesville have grown up with this festival, they’ve supported this festival, they depend on this festival. Maybe these people have moved away to other places, but it seems like they always love to come back for the Pumpkin Festival,” Rataiczak said, adding that the townsfolk are happy to both experience festival themselves and to see others returning after long absences.

He credits the sense of tradition and the festival’s longevity to the dedication of volunteers and the festival committee members, who work on providing diverse attractions for all.

“It appeals to young, to old, to male, to female. It really appeals to everybody,” he said.

Among the greatest draws will be learning who has grown the King Pumpkin and how much it will weigh. Rataiczak said long lines will swiftly form to have a picture taken with the king of the festival.

“It has to be, in my mind, the second most photographed spot in the state,” he said of the King Pumpkin’s place of honor at the corner of Main and Chestnut streets. “In front of the Ohio Stadium is probably No. 1, but No. 2, everyone always gets their picture taken in front of the king pumpkin.”

He added that last year’s King Pumpkin was a record-breaker for the festival and the state of Ohio at 2,150 pounds. The growers, Barnesville residents Todd and Donna Skinner, also earned the title of 2017 World Wide Great Pumpkin Commonwealth Grower of the Year. Thousands of pumpkin growers strive to grow the biggest pumpkin and compete to raise the three largest pumpkins of the year with the heaviest combined weight. The Skinners’ three prized pumpkins of 2017 weighed in at 1,621.5 pounds, 2,112 pounds and 2,150 pounds for a combined total weight of 5,883.5 pounds.

Rataiczak would not speculate about whether any record-breaking pumpkins may appear for this year’s festival.

“We never know. It was very exciting last year,” he said. “No one ever knows how much the king pumpkin’s going to weigh. We had a lot of rain this year and I’m really not sure it’s going to help or hurt. We’re about to find out soon.”

Rataiczak said while the contest for the kingship has its share of competition, it also brings together the participants, who often share advice or techniques.

“The serious growers, I’ve watched them, I’ve talked to them, and it’s interesting to me that they’re all family and they truly want to help each other, and they also truly want to help other people into the hobby of growing pumpkins,” he said

During Saturday’s parade at 2 p.m., the two parade marshals honored will be retired fire chief Bob Smith and retired police chief David Norris.

“They will be the co-grand marshals of the parade,” Rataiczak said.

The ribbon-cutters for the opening ceremony Wednesday will be Peter Riesbeck and Brian Riesbeck of Riesbeck’s Food Mart.

“They are super-excited to be cutting the ribbon for the festival,” Rataiczak noted.

NEWSLETTER

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *

COMMENTS

[vivafbcomment]

Starting at $4.73/week.

Subscribe Today