Half Moon Bay Art & Pumpkin Festival 2017: World Pumpkin Capital Pays Homage to the Great Gourd

From Half Moon Bay Art & Pumpkin Festival: Monstrous crowds all “pumped-up for pumpkins” will gather in the “World Pumpkin Capital” to pay homage to the Greatest and Almightiest of Gourds, not to mention devour 25,000 slices of the richest/creamiest/tastiest pumpkin pie on the planet as Half Moon Bay, California celebrates its 47th annual Art & Pumpkin Festival this Saturday and Sunday, October 14-15, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on historic Main Street.

With this recent run of disasters and tragic events and now the devastation up in wine country, festival organizers are hoping to bring some comfort, relief and old-fashioned feel-good fun with the festival this weekend.

SEE ALSO: Massive 2,363 Pound Pumpkin Sets New Record, Wins Top Honors At Famous Half Moon Bay Festival

EVENT HIGHLIGHTS:

•Superstar grower (and retired firefighter from Sumner WA) Joel Holland’s new American record leviathan, mind-bending 2,363-pound weigh-off champion mega-gourd which dominated Monday’s Safeway World Championship Pumpkin Weigh-Off. Marvel at and get your photo taken alongside the grand champion gourd (for $15 to benefit the non-profit Cabrillo Education Foundation). Plus, see a special display of the top 4 heaviest weigh-off pumpkins for viewing, ooohing and aaahing.

•Everybody’s favorite homespun Great Pumpkin Parade (Saturday, 12 noon) with Duane Kuiper, SF Giants broadcaster and fan favorite as Grand Marshal, the mighty grand champion mega-gourd, marching bands, classic cars, floats, and a crazy mix of costumed ghouls, goblins, gargoyles, and ghosts.

•The world’s biggest, heaviest work of “pumpkin art”. Sculptor Peter Hazel, whose family has ties to the very first Pumpkin Festival, is the creator of this massive mosaic sculpture that measures 12-feet long, 11-feet high and weighs 10,000 pounds.. Unlike other giant pumpkins, this one is made of steel, cement, and ceramic tile.

•”Farmer Mike” –– aka the “Picasso of Pumpkin Carvers” –– will be sculpting and carving giant pumpkins into a one-of-a-kind caricature masterpieces. Watch this extraordinary talent sculpt, shape and carve giant pumpkins into masterful works of art as he celebrates his 29th anniversary of “official festival carver”.

•This year’s Pirate-themed Haunted Barn features live (undead) actors from The Coastside Young Actors Workshop alongside audio-animatronic figures, projected and transparent ghosts, intense lighting, sound, and fog effects, and unexpectedly dropping and swooping objects caused by unseen forces.

•Smashing Entertainment on four stages … the blockbuster entertainment lineup includes The California Cowboys, The Megatones, Pamela Rose, Haulin Oats, Urban Outlaws, Apple Z, Jim Stevens & Friends, Bits & Pieces, The Swampers Credence Clearwater Revival Tribute, Coast Tribe, Business Casual, Jazz Con Fusion, Derek Fairchild, The Jenny Kerr Band, The Patrick Maier Duo, DreamCycle, Emerson & The GroWiser Band, John Clarke, Bob Culbertson, West Coast Ramblers, Bob at Large, The Singing Lizard, and the Half Moon Bay High School Pep Band.

•Special attractions include features kid-friendly amusements, fun and games plus “Smashing Pumpkins: Battle of the Bands on the Safeway Family Stage, the Comcast Take 5 Lounge with with giant screen TV, a super thrilling bungee jump, wild and wacky waterballerz, Mobile Rock’s 24-foot rock climbing wall, plus photos and fun with the delightfully rotund, playful and mischievious Pumpkin Festival mascot “Gourdy”.

•Events and contests include a Pancake Breakfast (7 a.m. both days), Costume Contest (Sat. 10 a.m.), Great Pumpkin Parade (Sat. 12 noon), Pie Eating Contests (2 both days), “Smashing Pumpkins: Battle of the Bands” (3 p.m. both days) Pumpkin 5k Run & Stroll (Sun. 8 a.m.) and Pumpkin Carving (Sun. 10 a.m.)

•Pumpkin-infused treats like pumpkin pancakes, pumpkin pie, pumpkin bread, pumpkin sticky buns, pumpkin cake rolls, pumpkin cheesecake, pumpkin cookies, pumpkin ice cream, pumpkin smoothies, pumpkin churros, pumpkin soup, pumpkin pie fudge, chicken pumpkin sausages, pumpkin seeds, pumpkin pie soda, and warm pretzels with a pumpkin dipping sauce; artichokes and Brussels sprouts, tamales, macaroni and cheese with pumpkin seeds, corn-on the-cob, sausages, roasted turkey legs, beef sandwiches, baked potatoes, clam chowder. Half Moon Bay Winery’s festival-label Sangiovese and other varietals, Half Moon Bay Brewing Company’s Pumpkin Harvest Ale, brewed with a variety of pale and crystal malts and pumpkin pulp and array of more seasonal craft brews, plus deelish artisanal cocktails – pumpkin-flavored Jack-o-tinis and Bloody Mary’s from Half Moon Bay Distillery.

•Navigate your way around using iPumpkin, the FREE Pumpkin Festival mobile app for the Apple and Android devices. Includes a new Find Parking feature plus key fact sheet, information on special attractions, a detailed site map, schedules, door-to-door directions, push messaging alerts, Facebook and Twitter integration, and visitor information.

•Other highlights include boo-tiful harvest-inspired arts and crafts and four stages of blockbuster entertainment.

Image via Half Moon Bay Art & Pumpkin Festival