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Welcome to The Great Highwood Festival 2018
The Great Highwood Pumpkin Festival is the quintessential kick-off event to celebrate the Fall season!
Be a part of history as we attempt to break the Guinness World Record of for the most pumpkins carved and lit at once (30, 851) and help us raise money for Make-A-Wish Illinois.
Come experience a full schedule of family-friendly activities and the charm of our small town that’s bursting with good will and family fun.
Pumpkin Fest Map 2017
Click to view full size map
Download map
Activities and Events Schedule - Here | Music Schedule - Here
$3 Daily Admission - $5 Weekend Pass
Buy your tickets at the entrance gates upon arrival.
Children 6 years old and under free.
All major credit cards accepted.
Rain or shine event.
| Pumpkin Fest Hours | |
| Friday, Oct. 5 | 4pm - 10pm |
| Saturday, Oct. 6 | 11am - 10pm |
| Sunday, Oct. 7 | 11am - 9pm |
| Carnival Hours | |
| Thursday, Oct. 4 | 5pm - 9pm Unlimited Rides - 5pm - 9pm |
| Friday, Oct. 5 | 4pm - 10pm Unlimited Rides - 5pm - 9pm |
| Saturday, Oct. 6 | 12pm - 10pm Unlimited Rides - 12pm - 4pm |
| Sunday, Oct. 7 | 12pm - 9pm Unlimited Rides - 12pm - 4pm |
2018 Calendar
BYOP (Bring Your own Pumpkin). The quantity of pumpkins delivered on site by the organizers alone will NOT be enough to break the world record. To help us break the record, bring a carved pumpkin. Place a candle in the pumpkin, and bring it to our Pumpkin Drop Off location in front of City Hall. All those who bring carved pumpkins will receive a FREE admission pass to the weekend event. BYOP pumpkins will be accepted through Sunday afternoon on Oct 8th.
Sunday October 8 Events
| 11am | Festival Opens - Rides, Vendors Activities, All-You-Can-Carve Pumpkin Stations (while supplies last), and More |
| 11:45am | Join us for coverage of live NFL football in Tito's Lounge |
| 12pm – 4pm | Unlimited Carnival Ride Special - ONLY $25 per person |
| 12pm - 6pm | Meet & Greet with Pinkie Pie from My Little Pony: The Movie at the Info Booth |
| 1pm | Pet Costume Contest Sponsored by Pet People at the Music Gallery Stage in the Tito's Lounge - Sign-Up |
| 2pm | Kids Costume Contest at the Music Gallery Stage in the Tito's Lounge - Sign-Up |
| 3 pm | Teen-Adult Costume Contest at the at the Music Gallery Stage in the Tito's Lounge - Sign-Up |
| 7pm | Make-A-Wish Family Presentation on Main Stage and Wall Lighting |
| 7:10pm | World Record Attempt For Most Lit Jack-O-Lanterns on Display |
| 9pm | Festival Closes |
Sunday October 8 Music Schedule
| Tito's Handmade Vodka Main Stage | |
| 12pm - 1pm | Music Gallery Presents Clockwork |
| 1:30pm - 3:30pm | Guitarra Azul |
| 4pm - 6pm | Unity the Band |
| 6:30pm - 9:30pm | Mr. Blotto |
| Banner Kitchen & Bath School of Rock Stage | |
| 2pm | School of Rock Evanston |
| 3:30pm | Exeter (School of Rock Highwood) |
| 4:30pm | The Red Line (School of Rock Evanston) |
| 5:30pm | School of Rock Alumni Band |
| 7pm | School of Rock Highwood House Band |
| The Music Gallery Acoustic Stage | |
| 1pm - 2pm | Costume Contest - Pets Sign-Up |
| 2pm - 3pm | Costume Contest - Kids Sign-Up |
| 3pm - 4pm | Costume Contest -Adults Sign-Up |
| 4pm - 5pm | Blind Squirrel |
| 5pm - 6pm | TKO Duo with Joey Kruse |
| 6pm - 8pm | Jim Fine & Marian McNair |
From Our Facebook Page
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We love that our fest sparked an awesome friendship between these two young ladies by way of Make-A-Wish Illinois!
Join us this year October 5-7 for more friendship connections and family fun!
Make-A-Wish® Illinois: Wish Friendship Begins At The Highwood Pumpkin Festival
illinois.wish.org
Two girls with wishes find friendship at a Make-A-Wish fundraising event.We love Make-A-Wish Illinois, and the ability they have to bring hope to families when they need it most. What a wonderful organization to partner with!! We look forward to many more stories like this one in the years to come partnering with them!! Celebrate Highwood
Make-A-Wish® Illinois: Wish Friendship Begins At The Highwood Pumpkin Festival
illinois.wish.org
Two girls with wishes find friendship at a Make-A-Wish fundraising event.One of the many reasons we live for our Fest AND Make-A-Wish Illinois.Sydney and Betsy were practically twins, but they didn't even know each other. Both lived in the same area, both were diagnosed with cancer at roughly the same age, and both wished to travel abroad to learn more about fashion.
Thanks to The Great Highwood Pumpkin Festival last fall, these wish kids met and became fast friends. Finding support, friendship and a caring community are more impactful benefits of becoming part of the Make-A-Wish family.
When life gave us rain, we played in the puddles and enjoyed our 8th annual Pumpkin Festival! Daily North Shore mentioned that we were able to raise $60,000 for Make-A-Wish Illinois, thanks to all who made this possible!