Half Moon Bay Art and Pumpkin Festival
Encyclopedia
The Half Moon Bay Art and Pumpkin Festival is an annual festival held in the coastside community of Half Moon Bay, California
for one weekend during pumpkin harvest season. It is one of the oldest and largest local festivals in California. Proceeds go to local civic causes and to the beautification of the downtown area of Half Moon Bay.
There is no admission charge for the event.
Monday is the Safeway World Champion Pumpkin Weigh-in contest. The Half Moon Bay Art and Pumpkin Festival is a two day event held the following Saturday and Sunday each year.
Festival hours are from 9 AM to 5 PM both Saturday and Sunday.
on Main Street between Miramontes and Spruce Streets.
The Great Pumpkin Parade is held at Noon on Saturday and runs East along Miramontes, North on Main St, and West on Mill Street.
There are two Music Stages, one at the South entrance and one located next to the Food Court in the IDES grounds. A Family Stage is located at 620 Main Street.
The associated Safeway World Championship Pumpkin Weigh-In is located on the IDES Grounds at 735 Main Street on Columbus Day, the Monday prior to the festival.
The first festival attracted 30,000 people. That year only one non-profit organization offered food for sale. The festival now includes dozens of local non-profit groups operating food and game booths, selling everything from pumpkin pie to linguisa sandwiches.
Proceeds go to various civic and local causes and have included the construction of two parks, multiple scholarship funds, the installation of old-fashioned downtown street lights, the underground wiring of Main Street, and the renovation of City Hall.
• Harvest inspired Arts and Crafts are represented by 250 artist and craftmakers. Original works are available in glass, ceramics, metals, fiber, leather, wood, jewelry and fine art.
• Food is a big item at the festival. Many food offerings include pumpkin such as pie, pancakes, bread, cheesecake, sausages, and ice cream. Local coastal favorites include Brussels sprouts, artichoke hearts, and Portuguese linguisa sandwiches. All food is provided by community non-profit groups.
• The Great Pumpkin Parade features the weigh-off champion pumpkin, marching bands, classic cars, and costumed children of all ages.
• Continuous entertainment is located on three stages throughout the festival. A variety of music is available from Country, to Blues, to Reggae.
• Family entertainment includes a costume contest, pumpkin carving, games, and a pie eating contest.
• Giant pumpkin carving is provided by Farmer Mike
, a professional pumpkin carver that turns giant pumpkins (up to a thousand pounds) into faces and reliefs. Farmer Mike
has carved at the event for 25 years.
• Local wine and microbrews offer wine and beer by the glass.
• Other attractions include a Sunday Pumpkin Run/Walk, a talent show, a pancake breakfast, giant pumpkin photos, a poster contest exhibit, and a haunted house.
is from Highway 92 to the east. North/South access from San Francisco or Santa Cruz is available using coastal Highway 1
. The festival, combined with multiple pumpkin patches surrounding the town, generate severe traffic congestion each year. Parking is limited to side streets or paid parking in lots sponsored by local organizations.
Half Moon Bay, California
Half Moon Bay is a coastal city in San Mateo County, California, USA. Its population was 11,324 as of the 2010 census. Immediately at the north of Half Moon Bay is the Pillar Point Harbor and the unincorporated community of Princeton-by-the-Sea....
for one weekend during pumpkin harvest season. It is one of the oldest and largest local festivals in California. Proceeds go to local civic causes and to the beautification of the downtown area of Half Moon Bay.
There is no admission charge for the event.
Dates
The annual event is held in October. Columbus DayColumbus Day
Many countries in the New World and elsewhere celebrate the anniversary of Christopher Columbus's arrival in the Americas, which occurred on October 12, 1492, as an official holiday...
Monday is the Safeway World Champion Pumpkin Weigh-in contest. The Half Moon Bay Art and Pumpkin Festival is a two day event held the following Saturday and Sunday each year.
Festival hours are from 9 AM to 5 PM both Saturday and Sunday.
Locations
The festival is located in downtown Half Moon BayHalf Moon Bay, California
Half Moon Bay is a coastal city in San Mateo County, California, USA. Its population was 11,324 as of the 2010 census. Immediately at the north of Half Moon Bay is the Pillar Point Harbor and the unincorporated community of Princeton-by-the-Sea....
on Main Street between Miramontes and Spruce Streets.
The Great Pumpkin Parade is held at Noon on Saturday and runs East along Miramontes, North on Main St, and West on Mill Street.
There are two Music Stages, one at the South entrance and one located next to the Food Court in the IDES grounds. A Family Stage is located at 620 Main Street.
The associated Safeway World Championship Pumpkin Weigh-In is located on the IDES Grounds at 735 Main Street on Columbus Day, the Monday prior to the festival.
History
The Half Moon Bay Art and Pumpkin Festival began in 1971 with the formation of the Main Street Beautification Committee. The group was formed to raise funds for the revitalization of Main Street, which was beginning to show signs of decay. With an abundance of pumpkin patches in the area, the committee organized an old-fashioned harvest-style pumpkin festival.The first festival attracted 30,000 people. That year only one non-profit organization offered food for sale. The festival now includes dozens of local non-profit groups operating food and game booths, selling everything from pumpkin pie to linguisa sandwiches.
Proceeds go to various civic and local causes and have included the construction of two parks, multiple scholarship funds, the installation of old-fashioned downtown street lights, the underground wiring of Main Street, and the renovation of City Hall.
Traditions
• The Safeway World Championship Pumpkin Weigh-Off attracts growers from around the United States. The weigh-off is held the Monday prior to the festival and the winners are on display during the festival weekend. In 2009, Don Young of Iowa won the event with a 1,659 lb Atlantic Giant pumpkin taking home $9,948 in prize money.• Harvest inspired Arts and Crafts are represented by 250 artist and craftmakers. Original works are available in glass, ceramics, metals, fiber, leather, wood, jewelry and fine art.
• Food is a big item at the festival. Many food offerings include pumpkin such as pie, pancakes, bread, cheesecake, sausages, and ice cream. Local coastal favorites include Brussels sprouts, artichoke hearts, and Portuguese linguisa sandwiches. All food is provided by community non-profit groups.
• The Great Pumpkin Parade features the weigh-off champion pumpkin, marching bands, classic cars, and costumed children of all ages.
• Continuous entertainment is located on three stages throughout the festival. A variety of music is available from Country, to Blues, to Reggae.
• Family entertainment includes a costume contest, pumpkin carving, games, and a pie eating contest.
• Giant pumpkin carving is provided by Farmer Mike
Farmer Mike
Farmer Mike is the stage name of professional pumpkin carver Mike Valladao of Half Moon Bay, California.Farmer Mike specializes in carving giant pumpkins from 100 pounds to more than a half ton each at events such as: the Half Moon Bay Art and Pumpkin Festival, the State Fair of Texas, Orange...
, a professional pumpkin carver that turns giant pumpkins (up to a thousand pounds) into faces and reliefs. Farmer Mike
Farmer Mike
Farmer Mike is the stage name of professional pumpkin carver Mike Valladao of Half Moon Bay, California.Farmer Mike specializes in carving giant pumpkins from 100 pounds to more than a half ton each at events such as: the Half Moon Bay Art and Pumpkin Festival, the State Fair of Texas, Orange...
has carved at the event for 25 years.
• Local wine and microbrews offer wine and beer by the glass.
• Other attractions include a Sunday Pumpkin Run/Walk, a talent show, a pancake breakfast, giant pumpkin photos, a poster contest exhibit, and a haunted house.
Traffic
The popular event attracts more than 200,000 people to this rural community. Major access from the greater San Francisco Bay AreaSan Francisco Bay Area
The San Francisco Bay Area, commonly known as the Bay Area, is a populated region that surrounds the San Francisco and San Pablo estuaries in Northern California. The region encompasses metropolitan areas of San Francisco, Oakland, and San Jose, along with smaller urban and rural areas...
is from Highway 92 to the east. North/South access from San Francisco or Santa Cruz is available using coastal Highway 1
California State Route 1
State Route 1 , more often called Highway 1, is a state highway that runs along much of the Pacific coast of the U.S. state of California. It is famous for running along some of the most beautiful coastlines in the world, leading to its designation as an All-American Road.Highway 1 does not run...
. The festival, combined with multiple pumpkin patches surrounding the town, generate severe traffic congestion each year. Parking is limited to side streets or paid parking in lots sponsored by local organizations.
External links
- Maramar Events -the official HMB Art and Pumpkin Festival web site
- http://www.halfmoonbaychamber.org/visiting_hmb/greatpumpkins.html