Washington - A gigantic pumpkin weighing in at 697 kilogrammes on Saturday broke California state records, at a quirky festival celebrating the humble squash.

The pumpkin actually came all the way from Port Alberni in Canada, and crushed the competition at the Giant Pumpkin and Harvest Festival in Elk Grove, California, ABC news reported.

The gigantic gourd-like squash was grown by Jake van Kooten and transported from its Canadian island home by ferry. Its competition included, among others, more than half a dozen pumpkins that weighed about 1,000 pounds, said festival organizer Zach Jones.

Elk Grove held its first harvest festival 14 years back, and organizers said it brings the entire community together.

This year's theme was "The Giant Pumpkin Party," quite appropriate a month before the presidential elections and the battle between candidates from the Democratic Party and Republican Party, also known as the GOP or Grand Old Party.

"We're having fun with democracy," festival director Kristyn Staby told the Sacramento Bee.

Growers will be invited to carve out their pumpkins on Sunday. (dpa)