The Great Highwood Pumpkin Festival Returns October 8 - 10, 2021

 

Great Pumpkin Walls and Skeleton Scenes Will Delight at The Great Highwood Pumpkin Festival

Get ready for a weekend full of pumpkins --- and skeletons --- as The Great Highwood Pumpkin Festival returns! I am totally a pumpkin fan, so I am thrilled that this purely pumpkiny event is back on! 

For three days from October 8-10, 2021, Highwood will be adorned with several beautiful pumpkin walls. Talk about pumpkin heaven! The first time I attended, the sheer number of pumpkins surrounding me totally thrilled me! Such a fun celebration of fall!

Carving pumpkins at The Great Highwood Pumpkin Festival.
Image credit of Celebrate Highwood.

This year's event will be a little more spread out and interactive than in years past in order to accommodate the current environment. The fun will feature pumpkin carving, live music, trick-or-treating, a carnival, an evening 5K Scare Run, craft vendors, a pet costume contest and more. Check the schedule for times and offerings each day. I love visiting as the day blends into the evening so that you can see the pumpkins in daylight and lit for the evening!

The Wizard of Oz visits The Great Highwood Skeleton Invasion.
Image credit Celebrate Highwood.

The Great Highwood Skeleton Invasion will be haunting Highwood starting October 1 through Halloween! I can't wait to see what crazy antics these skeletons are up to this year. Such a fun addition to Highwood Halloween traditions!

One of the famous Pumpkin Walls at The Great Highwood Pumpkin Festival.
Image credit Celebrate Highwood.

Want to add to one of the pumpkin walls? A carving station will be located at City Hall Park along with two others during fest days. Community members also are invited to bring and share their own pumpkins carved at home by adding them to a pumpkin wall.. Additionally, the public is invited to a preview night on October 7 from 5PM-9PM during which the public can carve pumpkins, enjoy live music and visit local businesses.

This year, The Great Highwood Pumpkin Festival will not have an admission fee. However, donations to the Highland Park High School Charity Drive are encouraged. Donations will be able to be made at Celebrate Highwood Pumpkin Fest Bars, through a QR code or through the Celebrate Highwood website.

Illinois is the nation's largest pumpkin producer -- so we know our pumpkins! The Great Highwood Pumpkin Festival is an absolutely fantastic way to celebrate pumpkin. The pumpkin walls are magical at night and not to be missed! So glad this fest is back!