SYCAMORE | Celebration will be in the air in Sycamore as the community holds its 45th Annual Pumpkin Festival.

This year’s festival theme will be “Pumpkin Masquerade,” and was chosen by Olivia Lohse, from West Elementary School and the winner of this year’s theme contest.

Kids can check in their carved pumpkins starting at 4 p.m. on the courthouse lawn to be displayed throughout the festival.

Events will take place all weekend, starting Wednesday and continuing through Sunday, and including the 28th Annual Sycamore Chamber 10,000-Meter Road Run.

The run will start by the National Guard Armory, 516 East State St., and end in and around the park district.

Other events include a pig roast luncheon at 355 N. Cross St. from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, the parade at 1 p.m. Sunday and pumpkin displays and craft shows throughout the weekend.

“The whole entire festival is [made up of] non-for-profit organizations,” said Julie Brannon, Pumpkin Festival committee director. “Everything about the festival is not-for-profit.”

Planning for the festival takes an entire year.

“We start planning for the next one at 5 p.m. after the parade on Sunday,” Brannon said. “It all just happens. The parade pays for the next one. We’ve been able to keep it non-for-profit and it works very well.”

Wally Thurow, known in Sycamore as “Mr. Pumpkin,” is also expected to be in Sunday’s parade, Brannon said, and should be in Sycamore Wednesday for the cake-cutting activity at 5 p.m. on the courthouse lawn.

Michelle Gilbert is a City Reporter for the Northern Star.