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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 |
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Did you know that planting your own vegetables can help improve the environment by creating long-term health of environmental systems? And planting your own pumpkins can help Highwood break a world record! Plant your own pumpkin today and take part in bettering the Earth, then bring it to the festival this October 11-13 for free admission (and bragging rights for growing and carving your work of art from start to finish!)
And lets not forget the Highwood Historical Societies Terrific Tomato Contest at the Garlic Festival. 🙂
Want to grow your own pumpkin this summer and give em’ pumpkin’ to talk about at the 10th Annual Great Highwood Pumpkin Festival?! Follow some easy steps on how to start growing and caring for yours today, then watch them grow and bring them onsite October 11-13 at our 10th Annual event for free admission. It’s never too early to get into the spirit of Halloween!
www.almanac.com/plant/pumpkins
We need you! Be a big part of our world record breaking 10th year October 11-13, 2019 and help supply the pumpkins! We work with awesome farmers that bring thousands on site but we still need as many as possible to break a world record of 30,581 pumpkins carved and lit on site! BYOP's for free admission! Can we make it happen at our 10th Annual event?!
Drew Schembra you need to experience Highwood pumpkin fest ☺️
Pat Cairo
Ashley Winter
Liz Palumbo. BYOP? Can you do it?
Looking for a fun summer activity to do with the kids? It's not too late to plant your own pumpkins to be an integral part of our world record breaking 10th year event!! Read these easy steps on how to plant them yourselves and watch them grow. Then bring them onsite during our fest for free admission! You can carve at home or onsite- All that matters is adding your beautiful creations to our walls to be counted!
www.almanac.com/plant/pumpkins