I grow the pumpkins for my kids' jack-0-lanterns. The stupid plant encroaches over the rest of the garden, but it is their favorite thing in the garden. They love watching those punkins grow huge and turn orange.
When I was 7, I grew a gigantic pumpkin. When the top was off, I could climb inside. We had to use a lightbulb with an extension cord to light it. It was big. I found that old package of seeds in my mom's seed box this spring. They were over 30 years old...but I thought I'd try 'em anyway. Well they worked, and we now are the proud owners of two pumpkins, each nearly three feet high. If I'd tried (watered & fed more, pruned & buried more tertiary vines, cut off blossoms & unwanted pumpkins earlier), I'm sure they would've gotten quite a bit bigger, but I wasn't willing to sacrifice anymore garden space for them. It started freezing here last week, so we brought them in to the garage. It's cool enough during the day now, I'm sure they'll last just fine until Halloween.
edit: Well I just measured, and they're actually just a couple inches past two feet, but they're fatties. Now I have a number to beat next year.