DeKALB – Sycamore’s 62nd annual Pumpkin Festival will be taking over downtown Sycamore in the upcoming week.

The Pumpkin Festival will run from Wednesday through Sunday with events scheduled throughout the week.

The festival will begin at 5 p.m. Wednesday with a giant cake-cutting ceremony on North Maple Street to kick off the festivities. Activities and performances will take place throughout the week with the traditional Pumpkin Fest Parade as the grand finale on Sunday through Somonauk Road, Elm Street, California Street, State Street and Main Street. 

The parade will begin at 1 p.m. with a theme of “Pumpkins of History,” the procession will feature floats and performances that are decorated according to the theme. 

The grand marshal leading the parade this year will be Tim Carlson. Carlson is a community member who has had a 31-year career in the DeKalb school district, 15 of which as the Sycamore High School principal.

Cole Regnery, president of the Pumpkin Festival committee, said he hopes festival goers have a positive experience that reflects the DeKalb County community. 

“One of the things we pride ourselves on is tradition,” Regnery said. “I hope they (attendees) can view this as a positive community event where they can bond with fellow like-minded people in DeKalb County and help support non-for-profits while they’re there.” 

Pumpkin festival prioritizes supporting local nonprofit organizations throughout the week’s events. The festival allows craft and food vendors to showcase their business while being given the opportunity to fundraise with the community. 

The festival is centered around family activities for all to enjoy, such as craft shows, pie eating contests and Historic Homes Tours, tour locations are on the DeKalb County History website.

Food will be available from local community members such as pork chop sandwiches from the DeKalb County Shrine Club, hotdogs and pumpkin squares from St. Peter’s Church, brats and chili from the Moose Lodge of Sycamore, and much more. 

Jayne Higgins, Pumpkin Festival committee director, said this year’s festival shares the same goal as its founder in 1956. 

“Wally Thurow wanted children to enjoy the Halloween season,” Higgins said. “He wanted them to enjoy the pumpkins and to get some joy, and that is still the center of the festival. We want you to enjoy the carnival, we want you to enjoy the pumpkins. It’s a fun celebration for the family, and it is ultimately family friendly.”

For more information regarding Sycamore’s Pumpkin Festival, visit the festival’s website.