(Photo By Flickr User ktbuffy)
In 1967, the first Morton Pumpkin Festival was organized by the Morton Chamber of Commerce as an annual fund raiser and celebration of the beginning of the pumpkin harvest and canning season at the local Libby’s Pumpkin Plant.
In 1978, the Governor of Illinois signed a proclamation that Morton, Illinois was the “Pumpkin Capital of the World” since 85% of the world’s canned pumpkin was processed at their Libby’s Pumpkin plant.
Today, the Morton Pumpkin Festival includes over 30 special events and venues hosted and organized by over 2,000 volunteers. The festival welcomes an estimated 70,000 visitors. Each year, a theme for the festival is selected through a voting process by community members and the Morton Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors.
The festival is governed by the Morton Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and a Pumpkin Festival Oversight Committee that includes both Chamber Board Members, Community Leaders, and Festival Chairmen.
The 30 plus events and venues that occur during the festival are organized by Chamber Members and community volunteers. Each activity has one or several volunteer Chairmen along with volunteer team members.
In 2012, Libby’s Pumpkin became the official sponsor for the Morton Pumpkin Festival!
If you will be attending this event, here is a schedule of some of the things that will be happening during the festival the rest of the week:
Thursday, September 15th-
6:30am – 9:30am: Pumpkin-To-Go open (Morton Plaza parking lot)
9am – 9pm: Art & Photography Shows (Library)
2pm-4:30pm: Senior Appreciation Afternoon
2pm-3:30pm: Pumpkin Bingo (Pumpkin Grille)
3pm-8pm: Pumpkin Business Expo open
3:30pm-4:30pm: Free pie & coffee for seniors (Pumpkin Grille)
3:30pm-4:45pm: Central IL Banjo Club (Main Stage)
4pm: Carnival & Midway opens
4pm-7pm: Pumpkin-To-Go open (near Kmart)
4pm-8pm: Pumpkin Store open
4:30pm-9:30pm Pumpkin Sweet Shoppe open
4:30pm-9pm: Pumpkin Grille open
5pm-9pm: Entertainment (Main Stage)
6pm-6:30pm: Kiddie Parade (Downtown)
6:30pm: World-Famous Budweiser Clydesdales (Main St.)
Friday, September 16th-
6:30am-9:30am: Pumpkin-To-Go open (Morton Plaza parking lot)
9am-9pm: Art & Photography Shows (Library)
11am-1pm: Pumpkin Grille open
11am-1pm: Pumpkin Sweet Shoppe open
11am-7pm: Pumpkin-To-Go Open (Morton Plaza parking lot)
3pm: Carnival & Midway opens
3pm-7pm: Pumpkin Craft Faire open (Downtown)
4pm-8pm: Pumpkin Store open
4pm-9pm: Pumpkin Business Expo open
4pm-9pm: Entertainment on Main Stage
4pm-9pm: Pumpkin Grille open
4pm-9pm: Pumpkin Sweet Shoppe open
4pm-9:30pm: Pumpkin Sweet Shoppe Express open (Morton Community Foundation)
5pm-7pm: Pumpkin Classic packet pick up (Lincoln Elementary School)
8:30pm: Fireworks (Festival grounds)
Saturday, September 17th-
6:30am-10:30am: Pumpkin Pancake Breakfast (Pumpkin Grille)
6:30am-10am: Entertainment (Main Stage)
7:30am: Pumpkin Classic 10K/2Mile run/walk begins
8am-6pm: Pumpkin Craft Faire open (Downtown)
10:30am: Pumpkin Festival Parade begins
11am-7pm: Pumpkin-To-Go open (Morton Plaza parking lot)
Noon: Carnival & Midway opens
Noon-6pm: Peoria PlayHouse Children’s Musem
Noon-8pm Pumpkin Business Expo open
Noon-8pm: Pumpkin Store open
Noon-9pm Pumpkin Grille open
Noon-9pm Pumpkin Sweet Shoppe Open
12:30pm-9pm: Entertainment (Main Stage)
1pm-4pm: Art & Photography Shows (Library)
4pm-5pm: Pie Eating Competition (Main Stage)
5pm-5:30pm: LIBBY’S Pumpkin Recipe Challenge Winner (Main Stage)
9pm: Festival Closes
To get more information on the Morton Pumpkin Festival, give the Morton Chamber Of Commerce a call at 309-263-2491 or go online to www.mortonpumpkinfestival.org!
It’s a Golden Pumpkin Celebration!
