THE ANNUAL GREAT HIGHWOOD PUMPKIN FEST, SKELETONS ON DISPLAY
AND
NEW THIS YEAR: PUMPKIN TOWN USA

October 6-8, 2023 to benefit Highland Park Community Foundation
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Celebrate Highwood is excited to announce its 13th annual Great Highwood Pumpkin Festival, October 6-8, 2023, will once again go for the World Record for the most jack-o'-lanterns on display (30,581 held by Keene, NH from 2013). This family friendly, fan favorite annual event will offer all-you-can-carve pumpkin stations throughout town, three days of live music from two stages, children’s and pet costume and pumpkin pie eating contests, a variety of food and artisan vendors, full bars, a carnival, hayrides and more! And, to kick it all off, Rock N’ Roll Through History Skeleton Displays will be going up throughout Highwood the weekend of October 1st to get the community in the Fall spirit. And new this year, Pumpkin Town USA will be constructed in the center of Everts Park. The Skeletons and Pumpkin Town will be up all month long.

The Great Highwood Pumpkin Fest grounds will be spread throughout Highwood at Highwood City Hall (17 Highwood Avenue), Everts Park (111 North Avenue), Painters Park (420-424 Sheridan Road) and the Highwood Metra Station Parking Lot, where a full carnival will be located. Street closures of Green Bay Road from North Avenue to Highwood Avenue, and Highwood Avenue from Green Bay Road to Waukegan Avenue, will welcome food, drink and activity vendors as well as Great Pumpkin Walls that will be lit up nightly.

Attendees will enjoy three days of live music and contests from three stages throughout Fest grounds, including the Main Stage at North Avenue and Green Bay, the World Music Stage at the bandshell in Everts Park and the contest stage in Painters Park.

In combination with the 13th annual Great Highwood Pumpkin Fest, the town will also boast the first Pumpkin Town USA in the center of Everts Park, as well as the ever-popular Skeletons on Display with this years’ theme of Rock N’ Roll Through History. These artistic seasonal installations will be up all month long and encourage attendees to walk around Downtown Highwood to post for pictures, patronize businesses and enjoy everything Highwood has to offer.

Each Rock N’ Roll through history display will include artistic guitars created by The Art Center Highland Park commissioned artists. The decorative pieces will be auctioned off starting on October 28 through October 31, with proceeds going to The Art Center Highland Park. Attendees can vote for their favorite displays using the QR codes stationed around the displays.

“The Skeletons on Display and Pumpkin Town USA are such a great ways to kick off the season and offer a preview of what’s to come at Pumpkin Fest and throughout the entire month of October,” says James Lynch, executive director of the Art Center of Highland Park. “This year’s artists are enthusiastically taking the Rock N’ Roll theme and running with it, creating amazing displays for the public to enjoy.”

“The Great Highwood Pumpkin Fest put Highwood on the map and it’s the perfect kick-off to Fall after our summer series of events,” says Eric Falberg. President of Celebrate Highwood. “In our lucky 13th year, we are bringing back all of the fan favorites and will once again go for the world record of the most jack-o-lanterns lit and displayed.”

Recognizing the amazing community as an integral part in pulling this event off, Celebrate Highwood is once again hosting a Community Appreciation Night and Opening Carnival on Thursday, October 5th from at 5-9 PM. With a relaxed atmosphere, this preview night features all-you-can-carve pumpkin stations and a full carnival with rides, games and food. Highwood restaurants, businesses and bars will be open for business as well.