SYCAMORE – The 61st annual Sycamore Pumpkin Festival will take place in downtown Sycamore to celebrate all things Halloween and fall from Oct. 26 – 30.

The theme of this year’s festival is “Wish Upon a Pumpkin,” and is hosted by the Sycamore Lions Club and Theis Farm Market.

The pumpkin festival will have many activities to choose from all weekend, including a number of food vendors, carnivals, a parade, face painting, a pie eating contest, a 10,000-meter road run, the Lions’ pumpkin display and more. The festival is open to the public and free to attend.

The Sycamore Lions Decorated Pumpkin Display Contest will be happening all weekend on the Courthouse Lawn. Entry forms for the contest can be completed online until Oct. 25 or in person on Oct. 26. Entries are open to the public and free.

The giant cake-cutting ceremony will be at 5 p.m. Oct. 26 on North Maple Street close to the Courthouse. 

There will be a teen carnival located on Sacramento Street and State Street. There will also be a kiddie carnival located on Somonauk Street and Elm Street. Both carnivals will be from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Oct. 28 and Oct. 29. On Oct. 30 both carnivals will be from noon to 5 p.m.

The Pumpkin Festival Parade will begin at 1 p.m. on Oct. 30. For a route of the parade, visit the parade page on the Sycamore Pumpkin Festival website. 

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