Great Highwood Pumpkin Fest Kicks Off Next Month

HIGHWOOD, IL — The 15th annual Great Highwood Pumpkin Festival is set to kick off next month, celebrate Highwood announced Friday.

The family friendly event will offer three days of live music, costume contest, trick or treating, pumpkin pie eating contests and more. To kick it all off, the iconic Pumpkin Fest skeletons will be going up beginning the weekend of Sept. 27.

“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 Jessica Ortega, President of Celebrate Highwood and
owner of Giggles Play. “This year is all about celebrating community and helping raise funds for
Pumpkin Fest and our beneficiary.”

This year's beneficiary is Service and Learning Together (SaLT), a volunteer-nonprofit led by students and veteran educators. The group supports food-insecure families, provides academic tutoring, aids communities in crisis, and partners with local groups, while inspiring compassion and leadership through service-learning.

Highwood Pumpkin Fest 2025 Daily Schedule:

Thursday, October 2
4-9 p.m. – Community Pumpkin Carving
5-9 p.m. - Unlimited Carnival Ride Specials

Friday, October 3
4 p.m. - Festival Opens - Food and Artisan Craft Vendors, Community Pumpkin Carving, and more!
4-10 p.m. - Live Music at Everts Park Bandshell, Main Stage, and School of Rock Stage
4-6 p.m. - Trick or Treating Throughout Festival Grounds
5-10 p.m. - Carnival Rides & Games
10 p.m. - Festival Close

Saturday, October 4
12 p.m. - Festival Opens - Food and Artisan Craft Vendors, Community Pumpkin Carving, & more!
12-10 p.m. - Live Music at Everts Park Bandshell, Main Stage, and School of Rock Stage
1-10 p.m. - Carnival Rides & Games
7 p.m. - Great Pumpkin Wall Lighting
10 p.m. - Festival Close

Sunday, October 5
12 p.m. - Festival Opens - Food and Artisan Craft Vendors, Community Pumpkin Carving, & more!
12-9 p.m. - Live Music at Everts Park Bandshell, Main Stage, and School of Rock Stage
1-9 p.m. - Carnival Rides & Games
12 p.m. - Pet Costume Contest at School of Rock Stage
1 p.m. - Kids Costume Contest at School of Rock Stage
2 p.m. - Pumpkin Pie Eating Contest at School of Rock Stage
9 p.m. - Festival Closes

The full music lineup and schedule is available at CelebrateHighwood.org.