TL;DR: Elroy Morgan just won the Damariscotta Pumpkinfest weigh-off with a 1,847-pound pumpkin — his second straight Maine title, after winning 2025 with a 1,624.5-pounder. He also set a new Maine state record for long gourd at 155.25 inches. The 1,847-lb giant fell just short of the all-time top 10.
It weighs as much as a small car, took a forklift to move, and it’s officially the biggest pumpkin in Maine for 2026. Grower Elroy Morgan’s 1,847-pound behemoth won the weigh-off at the Damariscotta Pumpkinfest this month, defending his title after his 2025 victory with a 1,624.5-pound gourd, WJBQ reports.
Back-to-Back Champion
Winning once makes you lucky. Winning twice — with a pumpkin more than 220 pounds heavier than your last winner — makes you the best in the business. Morgan’s 1,847-pounder didn’t just beat the 2026 field; it beat his own 2025 champion by a wide margin, confirming him as Maine’s dominant giant-pumpkin grower.
And he wasn’t done. At the same event, Morgan set a new Maine state record for long gourd at 155.25 inches — nearly 13 feet of gourd. When the weigh-off ended, one grower walked away with both of Maine’s most coveted squash records.
Just Short of Immortality
Here’s the tantalizing detail: the 1,847-pound pumpkin fell just short of the all-time top 10. The No. 10 spot on the all-time list sits at 1,870.5 pounds — set in 2021 — and it belongs to none other than Elroy Morgan himself. He remains his own toughest competition.
The Pumpkinfest: More Than a Weigh-Off
The Damariscotta Pumpkinfest is one of New England’s great fall traditions, and the weigh-off is only the beginning. The festival is famous for its pumpkin regatta — yes, giant pumpkins hollowed out and paddled across the water like boats — along with pumpkin catapults, parades, and a small town fully committed to celebrating the world’s most overachieving squash. This year’s weigh-off weekend drew growers and gawkers from across the region to see whether anyone could topple Morgan. Nobody could.
Growing a 1,847-Pound Pumpkin Is a Science
Competitive giant-pumpkin growing is not gardening — it’s agronomy. Elite growers start with proven genetics (seeds from previous champions), manage soil nutrition down to the parts-per-million, pollinate by hand, shade the fruit from sun-scald, and measure growth daily during the explosive summer months, when a top pumpkin can pack on 30 to 50 pounds in a single day. Morgan’s back-to-back titles suggest he’s mastered every variable.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much did Maine’s biggest pumpkin of 2026 weigh?
1,847 pounds, grown by Elroy Morgan and weighed at the Damariscotta Pumpkinfest weigh-off.
Who won the 2026 Damariscotta Pumpkinfest weigh-off?
Elroy Morgan, with his 1,847-pound pumpkin — his second consecutive win after taking the 2025 title with a 1,624.5-pound pumpkin.
Did the 2026 Maine pumpkin make the all-time top 10?
No — it fell just short. The No. 10 all-time spot is 1,870.5 pounds, set in 2021, and it also belongs to Elroy Morgan.
What other record did Elroy Morgan set in 2026?
A new Maine state record for long gourd: 155.25 inches, set at the same Pumpkinfest event.
What is the Damariscotta Pumpkinfest?
An annual fall festival in Damariscotta, Maine, featuring the giant-pumpkin weigh-off plus a famous pumpkin regatta (giant pumpkins raced on water), pumpkin catapults, and parades.
How do growers grow 1,800-pound pumpkins?
With champion genetics, precise soil and nutrient management, hand pollination, sun protection, and daily monitoring — top pumpkins can gain 30 to 50 pounds per day in peak summer.
Where is Damariscotta, Maine?
Damariscotta is a coastal town in Lincoln County, mid-coast Maine, known for its oysters — and, every October, its pumpkins.
