Pittsburgh’s Monster Pumpkins (Strip District)

Pittsburgh's Monster Pumpkins Festival sets up in the Strip District at The Stacks at 3 Crossings on Railroad Street, between 28th and 29th Streets, and calls itself home to the world's biggest pumpkins. Champions Row shows the three largest pumpkins, each weighing over a ton. Carvers Court puts four of the country's top giant-pumpkin carving artists into a head-to-head carving competition. All-day extras include Percheron carriage rides from Misty Lane Farms, Vessel Studio Glass hand-blown glass demos, a Pumpkin Pull of a 1,000-plus-pound pumpkin, Squash Sling and a Kids Corner pedal tractor pull at Hopper Park. Fall Festival Fantasia lines Hopper Place with food and craft vendors. Mad Science Fire and Ice shows, face painting, a pie-eating contest and pumpkin pool drops from a crane are on the schedule.

Our take: Ride the Percheron carriages early, since they are among the most popular attractions, and use The Hub or The Hive garages rather than circling Railroad Street.