There are fall festivals, and then there is the Circleville Pumpkin Show. If you are looking for an Ohio pumpkin festival that goes big on everything from pumpkins to food, Circleville belongs on your fall list. For four days, downtown fills with giant pumpkins, parades, rides, contests, entertainment, and plenty of pumpkin treats.
The 119th Circleville Pumpkin Show returns October 21–24, 2026. The show runs from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily, and admission is free. With so much packed into four days, you may have a hard time deciding what to do first.
Come Hungry to This Ohio Pumpkin Festival
Food is a big part of the fun in Circleville, and pumpkin donuts and pumpkin pie are two longtime favorites. Approximately 23,000 pumpkin pies and more than 100,000 pumpkin donuts are sold during the four-day event.
Of course, those are only the beginning. Festival food fills the downtown streets, and part of the experience is seeing just how many ways pumpkin can make its way onto the menu. Going with family or friends makes it even better because you can share a few treats and try more along the way.
After you’ve had your fill—or at least decided to take a break from eating—it’s time to see the pumpkins that helped make this event famous.
The Pumpkins Are Seriously Big
More than 100,000 pounds of pumpkins, squash, and gourds are displayed during the show. Among them are the giant pumpkins that draw plenty of attention each year.
In 2025, Mike and Dusti Helberg took the top spot with a pumpkin weighing 1,972 pounds. That’s nearly a ton of pumpkin sitting in downtown Circleville. Photos give you an idea of its size, but standing beside one of these giants puts it into perspective.
The pumpkins may get top billing, but they are far from the only reason to spend the day here.
Parades, Rides and Plenty Going On
As you make your way through downtown, you’ll find 25 to 30 amusement rides for all ages, along with exhibits, contests and competitions. Baked goods, arts and crafts, and artwork are also part of the show.
Then there are the parades—seven of them over four days. The 2026 lineup includes:
- Wednesday: Little Miss Pumpkin Show Parade and Miss Pumpkin Show Parade
- Thursday: Baby Parade and Bands & Youth Organizations Parade
- Friday: Pet Parade and Lodges, Civil & Fraternal Organizations Parade
- Saturday: Ohio Festival & Events Association Queens Parade
With a different lineup each day, you could return to Circleville more than once and still find something new going on.
A Circleville Tradition Worth the Trip
The Circleville Pumpkin Show has been bringing people together since 1903, when it began as a small agricultural display. More than a century later, it has grown into a fall tradition that draws generations of families back to Circleville each October.
There is a reason this celebration has lasted for more than 100 years. It is big, a little quirky, and completely its own. If an Ohio pumpkin festival is part of your fall plans this year, Circleville deserves a spot on the calendar.
For more details, including schedules, events, parking information, and everything you need to plan your visit, visit the Circleville Pumpkin Show website.
