8 Fall-Tastic Pumpkin Events Across the Country

Celebrate all things pumpkin at these fun festivals and events.

By: Shannon Petrie

Related To:

Shop This Look

Photo By: © Angie Gaul

Photo By: Bradley Wittke / Safeway World Championship Pumpkin Weigh-Off

Photo By: Mickey Pullen

Photo By: Damariscotta Pumpkinfest & Regatta™

Photo By: Chadds Ford Historical Society

Photo By: Brady Mickelson / Elysian Brewing

Photo By: Long Creative

Photo By: Dallas Arboretum

The Great Jack-O'-Lantern Blaze

Croton-on-Hudson, N.Y.

Held at the historic Van Cortlandt Manor, The Great Jack-O’-Lantern Blaze features more than 7,000 glowing, hand-carved jack-o’-lanterns displayed in a variety of arrangements. You’ll find dinosaurs, sea creatures, the Statue of Liberty and a carousel that actually spins. Don’t miss a stroll down the Pumpkin Zee Bridge, and check out the color-changing star show in the Pumpkin Planetarium. All of this autumnal magic is set to an original soundtrack by recording artist Richard Christy.

World Championship Pumpkin Weigh-Off

Half Moon Bay, Calif.

The Safeway World Championship Pumpkin Weigh-Off brings together the world’s best pumpkin growers and their gargantuan gourds. Using forklifts and special harnesses, the pumpkins are weighed on an industrial scale, and a winner is declared. The 2017 champion, Joel Holland (pictured), broke the American record with his 2,363-pound behemoth — the second-heaviest pumpkin ever grown worldwide. His prize was a whopping $16,541 ($7 per pound). This annual event kicks off the Half Moon Bay Art & Pumpkin Festival, where the four heaviest pumpkins are put on display.

The Pumpkin Festival

Keene, N.H.

Since it started in 1991, the Keene Pumpkin Festival has set the world record eight times for the most lit jack-o’-lanterns in one place; local businesses, schools and residents all take part to make it happen. After admiring the spectacular pumpkin displays, other can’t-miss activities include pumpkin bowling, dance performances and a children’s costume parade.

Damariscotta Pumpkinfest & Regatta

Damariscotta, Maine

There’s lots to enjoy at the Damariscotta Pumpkinfest & Regatta — held each year over Columbus Day weekend — including a Pumpkin Catapult, a Pumpkin Derby and a Giant Pumpkin Drop. The closing event is the Pumpkin Regatta, in which competitors race across the Damariscotta Harbor in boats made from 400- to 700-pound pumpkins. There are two divisions: paddleboats and powerboats. In the latter contest, the pumpkin boats are actually outfitted with 5-10 HP outboard motors.

The Great Pumpkin Carve

Chadds Ford, Pa.

More than 60 local artists, both amateur and professional, take part in The Great Pumpkin Carve, a yearly event held at the Chadds Ford Historical Society. On the first night, visitors can watch the carvers at work while they sculpt, saw and chisel giant pumpkins — some weighing up to 400 pounds. The pumpkins, which are lit by candles and put on display the second and third nights of the event, are judged in categories such as Best Overall, Most Original and Best Use of Pumpkin. Beyond the carving competition, visitors can also enjoy hayrides, pumpkin painting, live music and more.

The Great Pumpkin Beer Festival

Seattle

Sample 80+ pumpkin beers (plus a few surprises) at The Great Pumpkin Beer Festival, hosted by Seattle’s Elysian Brewing Company. Held at Seattle Center, the event’s centerpiece is an enormous, several-hundred-pound pumpkin that’s hollowed out, filled with Elysian pumpkin beer and tapped for all to enjoy. Guests are encouraged to come dressed in orange or even in costume to compete in the costume contest.

C-K AutumnFest

Ceredo and Kenova, W.V.

Held across two quaint West Virginia communities, the C-K AutumnFest offers loads of family-friendly fun throughout the last weekend in October. The highlight of the event is the Pumpkin House, a beautiful Victorian home decorated with 3,000 hand-carved pumpkins. Other activities include an old-fashioned bake-off, an arts and crafts show, a scarecrow contest and a parade.

Autumn at the Arboretum

Dallas

Come fall, the Dallas Arboretum transforms into a spectacular Pumpkin Village, featuring more than 90,000 artfully displayed pumpkins, gourds and squash, as well as hay bales, cornstalks and thousands of fall blooms. Autumn at the Arboretum's 2018 theme is Adventures in Neverland, so guests can meander through Pumpkin Village taking in sights and scenes from the beloved children's book about Peter Pan and the Darling children. Check the Arboretum’s calendar for other events that you can enjoy in conjunction with the fall displays, from concerts to a Day of the Dead celebration.

Shows

Hosts

Trending

Top Videos

Digital Exclusives

From Our Shows

Trending

Top Domestic

Top International

Trending

Explore By Region

Trending

Top Interests

By Trip

By Traveler

Travel Tips

Trending

8 Fall-Tastic Pumpkin Events Across the Country

Related To:

Shop This Look

The Great Jack-O'-Lantern Blaze

World Championship Pumpkin Weigh-Off

The Pumpkin Festival

Damariscotta Pumpkinfest & Regatta

The Great Pumpkin Carve

The Great Pumpkin Beer Festival

C-K AutumnFest

Autumn at the Arboretum

We Recommend

Top 15 U.S. Pumpkin Patches 15 Photos

Facebook Favorites: Pumpkin Carvings 10 Photos

Top 10 Halloween Parades 10 Photos

Facebook Favorites: Fall Festivals

8 Trending Destinations for Your Fall Getaway

10 Scarecrow Festivals You Won't Want to Miss This Fall 10 Photos

More From Travel