The biggest annual event in this small agricultural town is the Half Moon Bay Art & Pumpkin Festival (www.miramarevents.com/pumpkinfest [1]). Every October, nearly a quarter of a million people trek to Half Moon Bay [2] to pay homage to the big orange squash. The festival includes live music, food, artists’ booths, contests, kids’ activities, an adults lounge area, and a parade.
Perhaps the best-publicized event is the pumpkin weigh-off, which takes place before the festivities begin. Farmers bring their tremendous squash in on flatbed trucks from all over the country to determine which is the biggest of all. The winner gets paid per pound, a significant prize when the biggest pumpkins weigh over 1,000 pounds!
Links:
[1] http://www.miramarevents.com/pumpkinfest
[2] http://www.moon.com/destinations/california/san-francisco-and-the-bay-area/coastside/half-moon-bay