Pumpkin carnival comes to Hamilton Gardens

It is the ninth annual Great Pumpkin carnival for Hamilton. Photo / Supplied

The Great Pumpkin Carnival rolls into town this Sunday as local politicians prepare to face off in the largest pumpkin competition.

Hamilton Mayor Andrew King will go up against four other mayors from around the Waikato as they fight to win the bragging rights for their town.

Labour MP Jamie Strange and National MPs David Bennett and Tim Macindoe also prepare to face off at the carnival.

There has already been controversy in the competition when Mr Macindoe's pumpkin was sabotaged in January, cut at the stem.

The ninth annual Great Pumpkin Carnival will take place at the Rhododendron Lawn, Hamilton Gardens, 10am to 2pm on Sunday — a free fun day for the whole family.

A range of activities will be held on the day, including a bouncy castle, children's races, pumpkin racers, the record-breaking pumpkins and more.

It is the biggest Pumpkin Carnival in New Zealand and is the only event in New Zealand registered with the Pumpkin Commonwealth in the USA.

Any record broken will be officially recognised.

At the 2016 Carnival Morrinsville farmer Tim Harris broke his own Southern Hemisphere record for the heaviest pumpkin with his 789.5kg giant.

He still holds the record.