BELMONT COUNTY, OH (WTRF) - Excitement is ramping up in Barnesville already. The 61st Annual Barnesville Pumpkin Festival officially starts Wednesday, but the star of the show, King Pumpkin, will take center stage Wednesday night.

Preparations are now in high gear for the event known as one of the best festivals in the state of Ohio.

Farmers everywhere are hoping their entry will be the King Pumpkin. The all-time biggest was three years ago at 2405 pounds. The smallest was 72 pounds in 1964.

The four-day festival has big highlights, from Wednesday's weigh-in to Saturday's parade.

Streets are lined with thousands of people. It's one of the best parades in all the state of Ohio."

Rataiczak likes what he calls the 'small highlights.'

There's the tobacco spitting contest, there is the ho

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