Organizers of The Great Highwood Pumpkin Festival wanted to take a different tack for this year’s 15th annual edition of the event.
Gone were the world record tries for most lit pumpkins at one time, perched on scaffolding all over the downtown streets. The new goal was achievable, with a fundraising method to support a local youth volunteer group.
The three-day event was held over last weekend and drew an estimated 100,000 people for music and food. It was aided by the warm nighttime weather. However those same mild temperatures have sabotaged pumpkin carving attempts in the past, by turning the gourds to mush. This time, refrigerated trailers were brought in to house 10,000 pumpkins.
Carving stations were set up on North Avenue, right next to the iconic Great Pumpkin Wall that seemed to grow higher and wider each day. The surrounding streets were blocked off to allow easy walking paths to food stands, vendors and the bandstand in Everts Park. The fun and new activities were there, although the purpose changed.
“Attempting world records and planning a whole festival, plus a carnival around it, takes a lot of time and resources,” said Jessica Ortega, president of Celebrate Highwood, the non-profit organizers. “We stopped and asked, ‘What’s the real end goal?’ Pumpkin Fest was born from community service and a time when only a few neighbors did everything.”
Ortega said organizers felt like the festival was returning to its roots by honoring a volunteer, non-profit group with a portion of the proceeds raised at the fair. Based in Highland Park, SaLT (Service and Learning Together) is led by educators and students to act as tutors, providing food for families, and partners with other local groups.
“SaLT sold 425 mum plants and all the proceeds go directly to them,” Ortega said. “They are truly a living example of giving back.”
Ida Fiore, SaLT’s co-founder and president, said, “The funding goes right back into our service-learning programs. It supports our Shop N’ Drop initiative to fight food insecurity, tutoring programs and gives students an opportunity to travel and serve other communities. They love being part of something bigger than themselves.”
People attending the festival were asked to make a suggested donation of $2 per pumpkin with proceeds going to SaLT and Celebrate Highwood. The numerous carving stations became a hub of activity, with adults and kids eagerly carving away at different-sized pumpkins.
The scaffolds were filling up, with approximately 250 pumpkins at ground level waiting to be hoisted onto newer racks, and lit. Volunteers climbed up from behind and holes had been cut into the back of the gourds. Each one was lit with a candle or battery-powered lights. A similar wall and carving stations were erected at City Hall.
Brandon Ricciardi watched his son and some friends put the finishing touches on some pumpkins at one of the carving tables. “We love this,” he said. “We come for the Pumpkin Wall, and we love carving the pumpkins every year. We definitely hit the carnival and go on the rides. Overall, it’s the perfect Halloween experience.”
A NASCAR-inspired interactive mini-track proved to be a popular attraction, among the many staples that attract the crowds each year.
“My favorite was pretty cool,” Ortega said. “Volunteers put it together. It’s an Adirondack chair made out of pumpkins.”
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