Pumpkin doughnuts and pie slices share the spotlight with giant gourds in downtown Circleville this week as the Ohio community welcomes its annual Pumpkin Show.
The 119th Circleville Pumpkin Show runs Wednesday, October 21, through Saturday, October 24, with a Tuesday evening preview. Held approximately 25 miles south of Columbus, the event combines seasonal food, agricultural exhibits, parades, and community performances. General admission is free.
For visitors coming to eat, pumpkin pie and doughnuts are familiar starting points. But the food offerings extend beyond the bakery counter, with sweet and savory dishes giving the harvest celebration much of its flavor.
Advertised daily hours are 10 a.m.–10 p.m. during the main four-day show. Tuesday’s preview runs from 5–10 p.m., with concessions and rides open, an opening ceremony at Pumpkin Show Park, and a parade celebrating 250 years of agriculture.
Pumpkin Pie and Doughnuts Lead the Food Traditions
The organizer’s official Pumpkin Show website estimates that approximately 23,000 pumpkin pies and more than 100,000 pumpkin doughnuts are sold during the show. These are organizer estimates describing the event, not confirmed sales totals for 2026.
The numbers suggest how central those two foods are to the gathering. Yet the menu stretches well beyond dessert.
The Columbus Dispatch’s preview lists pumpkin cookies, burgers, soups, waffles, ice cream, fudge and milkshakes among the offerings. That variety lets visitors build an outing around familiar bakery treats or try pumpkin in an unexpected form.
Specific menus, portions and prices should be checked at individual stands. Free admission does not mean that food, rides, or other purchases are included.
Lindsey’s Giant Pie Adds a Local Landmark
A pumpkin pie does not have to be unusually large to attract attention. Lindsey’s Bakery makes scale part of the tradition.
In its 2026 Pumpkin Show preview, The Columbus Dispatch reports that the bakery plans another display pie weighing more than 400 pounds and measuring more than six feet across.
The bakery also has a role in Saturday’s program. The official schedule credits Lindsey’s Bake Shop with donating pies for the children’s and adults’ pie-eating contests. Those are scheduled for 11 a.m. and noon, respectively, at Pumpkin Show Park.
Together, the display and contests show how a local food business becomes part of the event’s public traditions, beyond serving customers at a counter.
Wednesday Starts Early for the Giant Pumpkins
Visitors hoping to see the giant pumpkin competition should arrive before the regular opening hour.
The official 2026 event schedule places the weigh-in at 8 a.m. Wednesday at Court and Main streets.
The broader display is substantial: organizers advertise more than 100,000 pounds of pumpkins, squash and gourds. The event also includes baked goods, canned goods, fruits and vegetables, flowers, art and home crafts.
That combination keeps the agricultural show visible alongside the food stands and rides. Visitors can see produce as an exhibit before encountering it as an ingredient.
Community Traditions Fill the Schedule
The event is in its 119th edition, and its continuity shows up in smaller details.
Saturday’s schedule lists the Adelphi Community Band, noting that it has provided music at the Pumpkin Show since 1925. Community band concerts appear elsewhere in the week’s program, alongside dance groups, craft demonstrations and canned-goods demonstrations.
The show is therefore more than a place to purchase seasonal food. Its schedule gives neighborhood performers, exhibitors and organizations a place in the celebration.
That community character also shapes the parades. Wednesday features Little Miss Pumpkin Show and Miss Pumpkin Show processions. Thursday brings the Baby Parade and Parade of Bands; Friday includes pet and civic-organization parades. Saturday closes with the Ohio Festival & Events Association queens parade at 8 p.m.
Plan the Visit Around Your Priorities
Someone coming for the weigh-in needs a different arrival time from someone planning an evening of music and food.
Check the current schedule before traveling, particularly for activities outside the general 10 a.m.–10 p.m. window. Ride wristbands have time restrictions, and advance discount sales advertised through October 19 have already ended.
The Dispatch lists shuttle options from AMVETS at 818 Tarlton Road and Ohio Christian University at 1476 Lancaster Pike. The university service is scheduled October 20–24; the AMVETS service begins October 21. Check current operating details before relying on either option.
Admission remains free, but leave room in the budget for food, rides, and transportation.
Would you begin with the familiar comfort of a pumpkin doughnut, or let this year’s food stands introduce you to a different side of the harvest?
