Situated between Peoria and Bloomington in central Illinois, approximately three hours from Chicago, is the quaint town of Morton.
While Morton is a charming place to visit year-round, it truly comes alive in the fall, thanks to it being the “Pumpkin Capital of the World.”
This title isn’t just a marketing stunt; Morton is home to the Libby’s Pumpkin processing plant, a facility that makes about 85 percent of the world’s canned pumpkin supply.
Even before receiving this title, the town’s identity revolved around pumpkins, celebrating its first Pumpkin Festival in 1967. The festival marked the beginning of both the pumpkin harvest and canning season at the local Libby’s facility.
Now, more than half a century later, Morton still hosts the Pumpkin Festival, which happens to be the largest and most famous pumpkin festival in Illinois.
Around 75,000 people gather every year to celebrate this four-day event. The festival features a variety of attractions, including a parade, a pumpkin-themed recipe contest, a weigh-off for the largest and heaviest pumpkins, a pumpkin pie-eating contest, live music, carnival rides, and much more.
This year, the Morton Pumpkin Festival will take place from September 16 through September 19.
Morton Pumpkin Festival complete schedule:
Wednesday, September 16
- 4:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. – Pumpkin Store Open (Merchandise Tent)
- 4:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. – Family Fun Patch
- 4:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. – Barnyard Discoveries (Family Fun Patch)
- 4:00 p.m. – Carnival Rides and Midway Open
- 4:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. – Pumpkin Grill Open
- 4:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. – Pumpkin Sweet Shop Open
- 5:00 p.m. – Official Opening Ceremony (Entertainment Stage)
- 5:15 p.m. – MHS Singing Groups (Entertainment Stage)
- 6:00 p.m. – Pumpkin Princess Pageant (Entertainment Stage)
- 8:00 p.m. – Billy Elton (Entertainment Stage)
Thursday, September 17
- 6:30 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. – Pumpkin Drive-Thru Open: Donuts & Scones Only (Former Sam Leman Lot, 161 Detroit Ave.)
- 1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. – Senior Appreciation Afternoon with Pumpkin Bingo (Grill Tent)
- 2:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. – Free Pie for Seniors
- 3:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. – Pumpkin Store Open (Merchandise Tent)
- 4:00 p.m. – Carnival Rides and Midway Open
- 4:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. – Pumpkin Drive-Thru Open (Former Sam Leman Lot, 161 Detroit Ave.)
- 4:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. – Family Fun Patch
- 4:15 p.m. – Steve Hargis (Entertainment Stage)
- 4:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. – Pumpkin Grill Open
- 4:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. – Pumpkin Sweet Shop Open
- 5:30 p.m. – 6:15 p.m. – Character Meet & Greet (Family Fun Patch)
- 6:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. – Announcement of Event Winners / Award Presentations (Entertainment Stage)
- 7:00 p.m. – The Effections (Entertainment Stage)
- 7:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. – Pumpkin Glow Foam Party (So Chic Boutique Parking Lot)
- 8:00 p.m. – The Blooze Brothers (Entertainment Stage)
Friday, September 18
- 6:30 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. – Pumpkin Drive-Thru Open: Donuts & Scones Only (Former Sam Leman Lot, 161 Detroit Ave.)
- 11:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. – Pumpkin Drive-Thru Open (Former Sam Leman Lot, 161 Detroit Ave.)
- 11:00 a.m. – 9:30 p.m. – Pumpkin Grill Open
- 11:00 a.m. – 9:30 p.m. – Pumpkin Sweet Shop Open
- 4:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. – Family Fun Patch
- 12:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. – Pumpkin Store Open (Merchandise Tent)
- 2:30 p.m. – Carnival Rides and Midway Open
- 3:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. – Art & Craft Market Open (Birchwood Park, 349 W. Birchwood St.)
- 4:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. – Pumpkin Classic Packet Pick-Up (Morton Junior High School)
- 6:00 p.m. – Voices of Morton (Entertainment Stage)
- 7:00 p.m. – Devin C. Williams (Entertainment Stage)
Saturday, September 19
- 6:30 a.m. – 9 a.m. – Pumpkin Drive-Thru Open, Donuts & Scones Only (Former Sam Leman Lot, 161 Detroit Ave.)
- 6:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. – Pumpkin Pancake Breakfast (Pumpkin Grill)
- 7:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. – Pumpkin Sweet Shop Open
- 7:15 a.m. – 7:30 a.m. – Pumpkin Classic 10K/2Mile Run/Walk Begins
- 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. – Art & Craft Market Open (Birchwood Park, 349 W. Birchwood St.)
- 10:30 a.m. – Pumpkin Festival Parade
- 11:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. – Pumpkin Drive-Thru Open (Former Sam Leman Lot, 161 Detroit Ave.)
- 12:00 p.m. – Carnival Rides and Midway Open
- 12:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. – Pumpkin Store Open (Merchandise Tent)
- 12:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. – Family Fun Patch
- 12:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. – Pumpkin Sweet Shop Open
- 12:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. – Pumpkin Grill Open
- 3:00 p.m. – Pumpkin Pie Eating Contest (Entertainment Stage)
- 4:30 p.m. – Captivation Dance (Entertainment Stage)
- 7:00 p.m. – Captain Crayfish (Entertainment Stage)
- 8:00 p.m. – Dee Mill & Friends: Grateful Deed (Entertainment Stage)
