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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
Follow Us On Facebook
Can you believe we'll be celebrating our 10th anniversary of the Great Highwood Pumpkin Festival! October 11-13? Do you have any photos from years gone by? If so, share them here - we want to periodically highlight our friends and supporters that have been along for the ride!
Feel free to share your favorite memories too! 🙂
I love pumpkin fest. It's a must do every year. I especially love the HGTV participation. I love to tell them how they inspired me, taught me to do so much. I went from couldn't change a toilet seat to gutting bathrooms, kitchens. I learned from all of them. The cousins, property Brothers, Alison Victoria, Ken & Anita flip or flop Atlanta, rehab addict, flipping Vegas, flip or flop Vegas, big fix Texas, one of a kind, good bones, something with the Ford's. Etc etc etc.
OMG! If I posted all the pics is have from the past 10 years, I would jam up CH page for sure! But here you go!
Last one!
Can you believe we are going to be celebrating our 10th Great Highwood Pumpkin Festival this year!? And, because this event is all about COMMUNITY, we need your help to once and for all break the Guinness World Record of most pumpkins carved and lit at once (30,581).
We partner with Pearce's Farm Stand for 20,000 of these pumpkins but we need more! We are looking for additional farms, suppliers, grocers, produce managers, families, etc etc to pledge additional pumpkins to reach our goal. Can you help? Like this post if you plan on BYOP (Bringing Your Own Pumpkin) for free entry to the fest and/or if you know of someone that can help bring in larger quantities!
Let's do this!
One of my favorite charity events!
Tanika Mullins
Jerry Smith in Kenosha???
Save the date alert! The Great Highwood Pumpkin Festival will be returning, Oct 11-13 to celebrate its 10th annual attempt to break the world record for most pumpkins carved and lit at once. Join us for a weekend packed with seasonal activities, live music and festive treats from local vendors. Kick off Fall with us!
Please bring back the hot buttered rum 😊
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? 🎃🎃🎃