Half Moon Bay Pumpkin Festival

WHAT: 47th Annual HALF MOON BAY ART & PUMPKIN FESTIVAL, Oct. 14-15. The World Pumpkin Capital of Half Moon Bay celebrates its bountiful fall harvest and autumn splendor with a special display of gigantically enormous/heavyweight champion pumpkins, smashing entertainment with four stages of stellar live music, the home-spun Great Pumpkin Paradel, a bone-chilling Haunted House, boo-tiful harvest-inspired crafts, homestyle foods, expert pumpkin carver Farmer Mike sculpting monster pumpkins into amazing one-of-a-kind masterpieces, photos with the Goliath grand champion mega-gourd, pie-eating and costume contests, pumpkin carving for fun, the world’s largest mosaic pumpkin sculpture that measures 12-feet long, 11-feet high and weighs 10,000 pounds by artist Peter Hazel, “Smashing Pumpkins: Battle of the Bands”, the Comcast Take 5 Lounge with giant screen TV, ultra-thrilling zip-line, waterballerz, and bungee jump, tasty wines, pumpkin-infused ales, pumpkin-flavored artisanal cocktails, selfies and fun with the delightfully rotund, playful and mischievious Pumpkin Festival mascot “Gourdy”, and the Sunday-only “Made on the Coast” local artists block with fine art and live music. Festival admission is free. Pets are not allowed. Presented by the non-profit Half Moon Bay Beautification Committee which has raised several million dollars for community service organizations and civic improvements in its 46 year history.

•The Big Week launches with the World's Greatest Gourd Growers and their titanic orbs doing battle in the 44th Annual SAFEWAY WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP PUMPKIN WEIGH-OFF, the Super Bowl of weigh-offs, on Monday, October 9, (7 a.m., on the IDES Grounds, 735 Main Street, Half Moon Bay). Weigh-off organizers are offering $30,000 in total prize money for a new world record entered at Half Moon Bay. Superstar grower Cindy Tobeck's leviathan, mind-bending 1,910-pound weigh-off champion mega-gourd obliterated a formidable field of heavyweight contenders in winning the 2016 Safeway World Championship Pumpkin Weigh-Off. Tobeck is expected to return along with a host of accomplished, veteran growers to contend for the $30,000 world record prize. The grand champion mega-gourd, along with the top five weigh-off pumpkins, will be displayed at the Half Moon Bay Art & Pumpkin Festival, October 14-15.

•Events and Contests ... Pancake Breakfast (both days, 7 AM), Costume Contest (Saturday, 10 AM), The Great Pumpkin Parade (Saturday, 12 noon), Pie-Eating Contests (Saturday and Sunday, 2 PM), “Smashing Pumpkins: Battle of the Bands” (Saturday and Sunday, 3 PM), Pumpkin Run & Stroll (Sunday, 8 AM), Pumpkin Carving for fun/no judging (Sunday, 10 AM).
WHEN: October 14-15, 2017. Open from 9 AM to 5 PM both days.

WHERE: On Main Street between Kelly Avenue and Spruce Streets, in Half Moon Bay, California.

INFO-LINE: 650-726-9652
WEBSITE: http://www.miramarevents.com/pumpkinfest/
FACEBOOK: http://www.facebook.com/HalfMoonBayPumpkinFestival
TWITTER: https://twitter.com/#!/HMBPumpkinFest/