Everyone was having tons of fun at the Irvine Park Railroad on Saturday.
Well at least plenty of pounds of it, as massive pumpkins were weighted to see who would claim the prize in 2022 for growing the biggest gourd.
The annual Great Pumpkin Weigh-Off was won this year by Kevin Donahue from Mission Viejo, who squashed the competition with a pumpkin recording 1,240 pounds. He took home the $3,500 first place prize.
Coming in second was a pumpkin weighing in at 899 pounds and a 873 pounder earned third place.
Children pose in front of Kevin Donahue’s 1,240-pound winning pumpkin at Irvine Regional Park in Orange on Saturday, September 24th, 2022. The Mission Viejo man won the Great Pumpkin Weigh-Off. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The crowd reacts as the weight of Kevin Donahue’s pumpkin is announced — 1,240-pounds — during the Great Pumpkin Weigh-Off at Irvine Regional Park in Orange on Saturday, September 24th, 2022. Donahue’ won the event.
(Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
A reach lift is used to place pumpkins on a scale during the Great Pumpkin Weigh-Off at Irvine Regional Park in Orange on Saturday, September 24th, 2022. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The leaderboard lists the winners of the 2022 Great Pumpkin Weigh-Off at Irvine Regional Park in Orange on Saturday, September 24th, 2022. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The crowd watches as pumpkins are weighed during the Great Pumpkin Weigh-Off at Irvine Regional Park in Orange on Saturday, September 24th, 2022. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Kevin Donahue, center, of Mission Viejo, and his team of supporters celebrate his Great Pumpkin Weigh-Off win at Irvine Regional Park in Orange on Saturday, September 24th, 2022. Donahue’s pumpkin squashed the competition, weighing 1,240 pounds. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Kevin Donahue’s 1,240-pound pumpkin is on display at Irvine Regional Park in Orange on Saturday, September 24th, 2022. The Mission Viejo man won the Great Pumpkin Weigh-Off. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
John Ford, left, and Mark Imhoof, help hoist a giant pumpkin onto a scale during the Great Pumpkin Weigh-Off at Irvine Regional Park in Orange on Saturday, September 24th, 2022. The 1,240-pounder, grown by Kevin Donahue of Mission Viejo, ended up winning the competition and also breaking the previous Orange County record of 1,240 pounds. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
A frequent competitor, Donahue took third place last year with a pumpkin that weighed 906 pounds (also considered the prettiest pumpkin that year) and fifth in 2020 with a 794 pounder.
Interestingly, his 1,011 pound pumpkin in 2019 only won sixth place – that was a good growing year with the winner tipping the scale at 1,758 pounds.
The top three winners will remain on display at the Irvine Park Railroad through Oct. 17 as part of its annual pumpkin patch, which features hay rides, train rides, John Deere races and other activities for children, as well as visits to the pumpkin patch.
The pumpkin patch and activities are available daily through Oct. 31, some activities come with a cost. The railroad is located inside Irvine Regional Park in Orange.
