TAMPA, Fla. — Florida's largest pumpkin arrived in Tampa after making its way from Indiana.
The enormous pumpkin weighs in at 868 pounds and will be on display at Bearss Groves farm stand at 14316 Lake Magdalene Blvd, Tampa.
When it arrived, it had to be put on a forklift and hoisted up onto a hay bale where it will be on display in front of the farmer's market starting on Oct. 18. Preschoolers from a local school took a field trip to the farm to see the pumpkin. The kids marveled at the pumpkin, which was bigger than them.
Barry Lawrance, the owner of Bearss Groves, said this was actually his second choice because the first one was "washed away by the storm."
The pumpkin is actually smaller than last year's, which weighed 1,500 pounds.
Lawrance encouraged people to stop by and take a photo with the pumpkin, which is free as the community starts to return back to normal after the back-to-back hurricanes.
"It's nice to see the community come back and come to see us," he said.
Staff are encouraging people to stop by and take a photo with the pumpkin, which is free. The farm stand is open the following dates in October:
- Saturday the 26th from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
- Sunday the 27th from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
- Monday the 28th from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
- Tuesday the 29th from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
- Wednesday the 30th from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
- Thursday the 31st from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.