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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
$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 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! |
Friday, October 5 - Festival Begins
| 4pm | Festival Opens - Rides, Vendors Activities, All-You-Can-Carve Pumpkin Stations (while supplies last), Carnival and More |
| 4pm - 6pm | Trick-or-Treating Throughout Festival Grounds |
| 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 |
| 12pm – 4pm | Unlimited Carnival Ride Special - ONLY $25 per person |
| 3pm | Pumpkin Pie Eating Contest at the Demuth Food Court Stage - Sign-Up |
| 8pm | Make-A-Wish Family Presentation on Main Stage and Wall Lighting |
| 10pm | Festival Close |
Sunday, October 7
| 11am | Festival Opens - Rides, Vendors Activities, All-You-Can-Carve Pumpkin Stations (while supplies last), and More |
| 12pm - 4pm | Unlimited Carnival Ride Special - ONLY $25 per person |
| 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 |
| 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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To celebrate fall and Halloween, HGTV's Tiny Pumpkin Patch will be onsite Saturday! Stop by and take a peek at a true to size tiny house, get a free latte or apple cider and take a photo inside a life-sized pumpkin. Also, be on the lookout for some of our show hosts. They may be lurking about. Oooooohhhhh!
Do you love carving pumpkins? Have you always wanted to break a Guinness World Record?
You can do both during the Pumpkin Festival!
Have a pumpkin you already carved and want to be included in the count? Bring it to our drop-off location in front of City Hall starting October 1 through October 4 as we kick off the Fest with our community! And, stay and carve more to help us fill our walls to welcome guests when the Fest officially kicks of on October 5!
All level of carving expertise welcome!
Did you know there is a way to get FREE pumpkin pie thanks to BENT FORK BAKERY? And all you have to do is eat it as fast as you can? Register now for our Pumpkin Pie Eating Contest on October 6th!
For more information and registration: www.eventbrite.com/e/pumpkin-pie-eating-contest-tickets-50371542640
The Great Highwood Pumpkin Fest Superhero 5k is NEXT week!
Not signed up yet? There's still time! Come out and support this great cause: runsignup.com/Race/IL/Highwood/HighwoodSuperhero5KRunWalk
This is the last week for participants to take advantage of the complimentary prep classes from Equinox! Precision Running will have it's last class on Wednesday at 6am and 5:15pm while Yoga Fundamentals will be on Saturday at 10:45am!
Make sure you RSVP for the final classes: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdeKwqlM-p5d-9wBrgwwtohJQ9iNlyBoW3GOY5Mo-Xi45SeUQ/viewform
Mary Bowes Fitzgibbons. You should do this
If you have the pie eating contest my friend will like to do that and also the adult costume contest my friend is Zach f
Woohoo, All Star Home Improvements and Renovations, !
Debbie Bacci-Rodriguez