55th Annual Sycamore Pumpkin Festival 2016
Dates Are Set. Individual Events and Times Listed are Based on 2015 Schedule
Sat., Oct. 22, 20165 to 6:30 p.m.
Ghost Stories in the Park Sycamore Park, Good Tymes Shelter (All ages welcome. Snacks and hot chocolate available) Wed., Oct. 26, 20164 to 9 p.m.
Lions' Pumpkin Check-in DeKalb County Courthouse Lawn 4:00 to 6 p.m. Haunted Physics - NIU STEM Outreach Sycamore Museum of Natural History 5 p.m. Opening/Giant Cake Cutting Ceremony North Maple Street adjacent to DeKalb County Courthouse Lawn Thurs., Oct. 27, 2015ALL DAY
Lions' Pumpkin Display DeKalb County Courthouse Lawn 7 to 8:30 a.m. Kiwanis Prayer Breakfast United Methodist Church, 160 Johnson Avenue 7 p.m. Pumpkin Celebration Sycamore Library Children in kindergarten through 5th grade will enjoy a variety of games, stories, and special treats. Fri., Oct. 28, 2016ALL DAY
Lions' Pumpkin Display DeKalb County Courthouse Lawn 11 to 5:30 p.m. Craft Show United Methodist Church, 160 Johnson Avenue 2 to 10 p.m. Teen Carnival - Sacramento and State Streets Kiddie Carnival - Somonauk & Elm Streets Sat., Oct. 29, 2016ALL DAY
Lions' Pumpkin Display DeKalb County Courthouse Lawn in Sycamore 7 to 11 a.m. Rotary Pancake Breakfast Federated Church, 612 W. State Street in Sycamore 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sycamore Rugby Club Pork Shank Sale Across from the Courthouse 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Craft Show United Methodist Church, 160 Johnson Avenue in Sycamore 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Sycamore Music Boosters' Autumn Craft & Treasures Market Sycamore High School 10 a.m. Lions' Club Giant Pumpkin Weigh-In DeKalb County Courthouse Lawn 10 a.m. Golf Scramble Sycamore Park Golf Course, 940 East State Street Registration begins on Oct. 1. Call (815) 895-3884 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Beef Burger Luncheon Bethel Assembly of God, 131 West Elm Street 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Historic Homes Walk Tickets ($25 per person or $40 for two people) are available at the Sycamore History Museum, the Sycamore Chamber Office, Sweet Earth Jewelry and at each of the homes on the walk. Visit www.sycamorehistory.org/events-programs for more information. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The DeKalb County Shrine Club Pork Chop Sandwich Sale 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Teen Carnival - Sacramento and State Streets in Sycamore Kiddie Carnival - Somonauk & Elm Streets 1 to 4 p.m. Pumpkin Putt Mini Golf Sycamore Library. Tickets are $5 per player or $20 per group (up to 6 players). 2:30 p.m. South Shore Drill Team Performance 100 block of Somonauk Street Sponsored by KishHealth System, Hauser-Ross and ServiceMASTER 4 p.m. Kiwanis Pie-Eating Contest DeKalb County Courthouse Lawn 6 p.m. Scary Stories in the Cemetery Elmwood Cemetery, corner of Charles and Elmwood Streets Bring your own chairs, blankets and flashlights. Stories told by Sycamore Library staff and friends. Very scary. Not for the very young. Recommended for middle school and older. Please be respectful in the cemetery. FREE 6 to 8 p.m. Creepy Crawly Halloween Party Midwest Museum of National History Trick-or-treat through the museum and enjoy candy, games and prizes. $ Admission Fees Apply |
In 1956, Wally Thurow, also known as Mr. Pumpkin(pictured on the right), displayed a few decorated pumpkins on his front lawn in an effort to turn Halloween into a time of fun and creativity. In 1962, through the efforts of Mr. Pumpkin and the Sycamore Lions' Cub, the Sycamore Pumpkin Festival became an official celebration in Sycamore.
The DeKalb County Courthouse lawn is the center of activities, including thousands of decorated pumpkins on display. There are also arts and crafts shows, a house walk, a pie-eating contest, two carnivals, a 10K race and much more. It is all capped off by a giant parade on Sunday afternoon. 2016 Sycamore Pumpkin Fest Parade Route
Sun., Oct. 30, 2016ALL DAY
Lions' Pumpkin Display DeKalb County Courthouse Lawn 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sycamore Rugby Club Pork Shank Sale Across from the Courthouse 9 to 4 p.m. The Sycamore Music Boosters' Autumn Craft & Treasures Market Sycamore High School 9:35 a.m. START TIME Sycamore Chamber 10K Run Starts at the Armory in Sycamore http://sycamorepumpkinrun10k.wordpress.com/ 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The DeKalb County Shrink Club Pork Chop Sandwich Sale 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Beef Burger Luncheon Bethel Assembly of God, 131 West Elm Street 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. St. Mary's Church Food Booth Waterman and Somonauk Streets 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. St. Peter's Church Food Booth 218 Somonauk Street 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Teen Carnival - Sacramento and State Streets in Sycamore Kiddie Carnival - Somonauk & Elm Streets 1 p.m. Pumpkin Parade See parade map above. At the intersection of Main and State Streets, special space will be available for wheelchairs, walkers, and other individuals with special needs for viewing the parade. |
