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Welcome to The Great Highwood Pumpkin 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.
Activities and Events Schedule - Here | Music Schedule - Here | Festival Map - 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.
Pet friendly!
| 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 will NOT be enough to break the world record. Bring a carved pumpkin to our Pumpkin Drop Off location in front of City Hall Monday, October 1 through Thursday, October 4 or bring it with you to the festival and receive a FREE admission pass to the weekend event. BYOP pumpkins will be accepted through Sunday afternoon Oct 7th.
Prelude to Pumpkin Fest
Monday, October 1- Thursday October 4
Monday, October 1
| 3:30pm - 9pm | Pumpkin Carving at Highwood City Hall |
Tuesday, October 2
| 3:30pm - 9pm | Pumpkin Carving at Highwood City Hall |
Wednesday, October 3
| 3:30pm - 9pm | Pumpkin Carving at Highwood City Hall |
Thursday, October 4
| 5pm - 10pm | Community Appreciation Night - Free Admission, Pumpkin Carving, Live Music, Cash Bar, Carnival & More! |
| 5pm - 10pm | Come check out the Tito’s Airstream Lounge showing live coverage of your favorite sporting events. Pick up some complimentary Tito’s swag and relax in style with a Tito’s Handmade Vodka cocktail! |
Friday, October 5 - Festival Begins
| 4pm | Festival Opens - Rides, Vendors Activities, All-You-Can-Carve Pumpkin Stations (while supplies last), Carnival and More |
| 4pm - 9pm | Your Vote is Your Voice! Register to Vote at the Info Booth! |
| 4pm - 6pm | Trick-or-Treating Throughout Festival Grounds |
| 4pm - 10pm | Enjoy live coverage of your favorite sporting events while enjoying Tito’s Handmade Vodka cocktails in the Tito’s Airstream Lounge located next to the Kinzie Party Lounge tent. |
| 4pm - 10pm | Stop by the HGTV Tiny Pumpkin Patch for FREE lattes (dairy and non-dairy options available) and apple cider! Take your picture inside a giant 8-foot tall pumpkin! |
| 5pm – 9pm | Unlimited Carnival Ride Special ONLY $25 per person |
| 7:45pm | Make-A-Wish Family Presentation on Main Stage and Wall Lighting |
| 10pm | Festival Close |
Saturday, October 6
| 9am | Superhero 5K Run/Walk – Sign-Up |
| 11am | Festival Opens - Rides, Vendors Activities, All-You-Can-Carve Pumpkin Stations (while supplies last), and More |
| 11am - 3:30pm | Stop by The Home Improvement Network booth and check out the creative designs by their balloon artist! |
| 11am - 10pm | Enjoy live coverage of your favorite football team while enjoying a Tito’s Handmade Vodka cocktail in the Tito’s Airstream Lounge located next to the Kinzie Party Lounge tent. |
| 11am - 10pm | Stop by the HGTV Tiny Pumpkin Patch for FREE lattes (dairy and non-dairy options available) and apple cider! Take your picture inside a giant 8-foot tall pumpkin! |
| 12pm – 4pm | Unlimited Carnival Ride Special ONLY $25 per person |
| 12pm – 5pm | Join NorthShore University HealthSystem for a complimentary hot chocolate in front of the Info Booth |
| 12pm – 8pm | Your Vote is Your Voice! Register to Vote at the Info Booth! |
| 2:30pm - 3pm | Stop by HGTV Magazine for a photo with Ken and Anita Corsini, hosts of HGTV's Flip or Flop Atlanta! |
| 3pm | Pumpkin Pie Eating Contest at the Demuth Food Court Stage - Sign-Up |
| 3pm - 3:30pm | Create a pumpkin art project in the HGTV Magazine area with the Corsini family, hosts of HGTV's Flip or Flop Atlanta! |
| 4pm - 4:30pm | Stop by the HGTV Tiny Pumpkin Patch and have Instaprint photos taken with Ken and Anita Corsini, hosts of HGTV's Flip or Flop Atlanta! |
| 7pm | It’s “Fight Night” at the Tito’s Airstream Lounge tonight. Enjoy a Tito’s Handmade Vodka cocktail and check out the action! |
| 7:30pm | Make-A-Wish Family Presentation on Main Stage and Wall Lighting with Ken and Anita Corsini, hosts of HGTV's Flip or Flop Atlanta! |
| 10pm | Festival Close |
Sunday, October 7
| 11am | Festival Opens - Rides, Vendors Activities, All-You-Can-Carve Pumpkin Stations (while supplies last), and More |
| 11am - 3:30pm | Stop by The Home Improvement Network booth and check out the creative designs by their balloon artist! |
| 11am - 9pm | Enjoy live coverage of your favorite football team while enjoying a Tito’s Handmade Vodka cocktail in the Tito’s Airstream Lounge located next to the Kinzie Party Lounge tent. |
| 11am - 9pm | Stop by the HGTV Tiny Pumpkin Patch for FREE lattes (dairy and non-dairy options available) and apple cider! Take your picture inside a giant 8-foot tall pumpkin! |
| 12pm - 4pm | Unlimited Carnival Ride Special ONLY $25 per person |
| 12pm - 6pm | Your Vote is Your Voice! Register to Vote at the Info Booth! |
| 12pm | Pet Costume Contest Sponsored by Pet People at the Demuth Food Court Stage - Sign-Up |
| 1pm | Kids Costume Contest at the Demuth Food Court Stage - Sign-Up |
| 1pm | Play Atlas Treasure Hunts on your Android or iPhone - Compete to win prizes! Stop by the Info Booth for download instructions |
| 1:30pm | Play Atlas Treasure Hunts on your Android or iPhone - Compete to win prizes! Stop by the Info Booth for download instructions |
| 2pm | Play Atlas Treasure Hunts on your Android or iPhone - Compete to win prizes! Stop by the Info Booth for download instructions |
| 2 pm | Teens to Adult Costume Contest at the Demuth Food Court Stage - 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 |
From Our Facebook Page
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The Great Highwood Pumpkin Festival benefitting Make-A-Wish Illinois may be over, but the work isn't! Here is a quick word from City of Highwood Mayor Charlie Pecaro and Celebrate Highwood board member & Highwood Alderman Eric Falberg!
www.highwoodpumpkinfest.com/donate
$60,ooo raised for MAKE-A-Wish Foundation. So Awesome.
Great cause and fun event! Just curious what was the final number of lit pumpkins and how far off from the record was it? 🎃🎃🎃
We hope you all had fun participating in the Superhero 5k walk/run! Congratulations to overall winners Chris Pegg of Highwood, Brian Bosley of Arlington Heights, and David Bradley of Hico, Texas!
Thank you to everyone who participated!
(Photos by Claire Esker/22nd Century Media)
Out fabulously groovy Mayor Charlie Pecaro and his First Lady of the City of Highwood, Jessica Pecaro Judi g the costume contests!
Looking good 🤗
Bhuahahaha
I mean, you really can’t top this!!!! (But I am sure you will....!)
Had a blast
Grooovy baby!!!!!
Best picture ever! I know what the cover of your Christmas card will be!
Those costumes were just too funny!!! Can’t wait to see what you do next year!
Cute!
How adorable! 🎃👍🎃
Oh behave! Groovy baby...
Love this pic of you two!
Nice work, Jessica Pecaro and Charlie!
Shows up in my feed after the Festival is done...
Oh my...
Wow! Really authentic!
Fantastic! Next year Ken and Barbie!
You guys are rocking those outfits! We have the best first family!!
Love this! 💜
LOVE IT!!!!!
It's sad to say that today is the last day of the Pumpkin Fest! But that doesn't mean there's any less fun to be had! Stop by from 11am-9pm for Windy City Amusements, Inc.carnival rides, live music, all-you-can-carve pumpkin stations (while supplies last), vendors activities, costume contests for both pets and people alike, and to compete to win prizes by playing Atlas Treasure Hunts!
Don't miss the pumpkin wall lighting at 7:10 pm as we attempt to break the Guinness World Record for Most Jack-o-Lanterns Lit at One Time!
www.highwoodpumpkinfest.com/schedule/
Schedule of Events at The Highwood Pumpkin Festival
highwoodpumpkinfest.com
Daily Schedule of Events at The Highwood Pumpkin Festival
yo what happened I was there and by 7:10 not even half the pumpkins were lit and there was no announcement of any sort during the duration of my visit