10 a.m. Saturday, Old Colorado City 2527 W. Colorado Ave; 577-4112, shopoldcoloradocity.com

You’ve heard of “James and the Giant Peach,” but have you heard of Gary and the giant pumpkin? Admittedly, it doesn’t carry the same weight as the famous children’s book, but Gary’s 1,386-pound pumpkin just might.

Gary “The Wiz” Grande is not alone in his quest to grow the biggest pumpkin and, in fact, “the biggest one I’ve ever seen was 1,536 pounds that a guy brought down from South Dakota” says Grande.

Head to Old Colorado City on Saturday for the weigh-in, which determines if Grande or any other competitor can beat the record held by Ron Wallace of Rhode Island. Wallace’s gigantic pumpkin tipped the scale at an astonishing 2,009 pounds. Also, check out Scarecrow Days, which run through the end of the month. Many businesses in Old Colorado City will create scarecrows and place them in front of their shops, with the public voting on which scarecrow is their favorite. Monetary prizes will be given to the top three winners.

OTHER EVENTS

Miss Tess in concert – 7:30 p.m. Friday, Front Range Barbeque, 2330 W. Colorado Ave., 632-2596, frbbq.com. “Noises Off” – 7:30 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday, through Sunday, Fine Arts Center, 30 W. Dale St., 634-5583, csfinearts center.org.

Pikes Peak Philharmonic – 3 p.m. Sunday, Mitchell High School, 1205 Potter Drive, 328-6600, mitchell.d11.org.

Naomi Caffery, 2, of Fountain explores the giant pumpkins on display Saturday, Oct. 20, 2012, during the Giant Pumpkin Weigh-Off in Old Colorado City. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock)

Christian murdock