The Spring Hope National Pumpkin Festival will be here before you know it! The town will be taken over by pumpkins and decorations, shopping, fun, and music. Be sure to make time for this annual event, which transforms Spring Hope into a Fall wonderland of pumpkins, leaves, hay bales, and corn stalks.
There is something for all ages, from the pumpkin decorating to the parade and activities in between! Check out the festival from September 30 to October 1, 2016.
This festival takes over downtown Spring Hope! For navigation/GPS, head for 118 W Railroad Street, Spring Hope NC. The streets will be bustling!
Festival details and updates are available on the festival Facebook page. The Town of Spring Hope website includes vendor applications.
The event is organized for the town by the Spring Hope Area Chamber of Commerce, Spring Hope NC. The Chamber is online at www.facebook.com/SpringHopeChamberOfCommerce, along with updates on the selection of Miss Pumpkin Queen 2016, which is done prior to the Festival.
Pumpkin Recipe Contest
September 30, 2016, get to the Town of Spring Hope’s Municipal Building between 9am and 10:30am to register for the Pumpkin Recipe Contest. Share your favorite pumpkin recipe, and the other offerings in the contest.
Note that this Pumpkin Recipe Contest requires 1 cup of pumpkin to be used in the recipe.
The Pumpkin Recipe Contest kicks off at 10:45am, at the Spring Hope Town Hall.
Musical Kick-off
Get to downtown on Friday, September 30, 7-11pm to enjoy music by Liquid Pleasure on the main stage!
More information on the Liquid Pleasure Band may be found on their website, liquidpleasureband.com.
Vendor Fair
A variety of food and craft vendors have signed up, for your shopping pleasure. Vendors will be located along Railroad Street and Main Street too. Vendors are scheduled to be open on October 1, 2016, from 9am to 5pm.
Pumpkin Creation Contest
Get to Spring Hope Town Hall on October 1, 2016 for this contest! Registration begins at 11am, and the contest kicks off at 11:30am. Judging concludes at 1pm, with winners announced at the festival.
Everything will be provided for the children during the Pumpkin Creations and only those items may be used.
The Pumpkin Cruise In
Classic cars, trucks, and tractors will be cruising into town. Head to Pine Street October 1, 2016, from 9:30am to 1:30pm to check out the best and strongest sets of wheels around!
The 45th Annual Parade
The Pumpkin Festival Parade makes its way through downtown on October 1, 2016, 3-4:30pm. Come and see Miss Pumpkin Queen and all the parade participants from local organizations and businesses. Don’t miss it!
Pumpkin Weigh-In Contest
Get your biggest, homegrown pumpkin to main street on October 1, 2016, between 7am and 9am. Enter your best for this weigh-in, with cash prizes for Junior National and Grand National categories. Grand National prizes range from $25 to $100. Junior National prizes range from $15 to $50.
A few Pumpkin Weigh-In guidelines have been released by the festival committee:
- Entries by a grower or team must weigh at least 60 lbs. and are limited to one entry per division
- Pumpkin must be sound, healthy, undamaged, no foreign material added, free of rot or holes/cracks, and have attached vines no longer than one inch from the stem
- Grower or average ages of team in the Junior National category must be no more than 18 years old
Judging finishes at 9:30am, followed by the Weigh-off expected to last until 11am.
National Pumpkin Festival Schedule with Locations
Friday, September 30, 2016
| Time | Event | Location |
| 9 am – 10:30
10:45 |
Pumpkin Recipe Registration
Pumpkin Recipe Contest |
Spring Hope Town Hall
|
| 12 Noon | Food Vendors Open for Business | Railroad Street/Ash Street |
| 4 pm – 9 pm | Kid’s Zone – Bouncy Houses | Ash Street |
| 4 pm – 7 pm | Sound Show Productions
DJ – Barry Atkinson |
Main Stage |
| 6:30 pm | Official Welcome by Tracey Jackson, Chamber President
Introduction of 2016 Pumpkin Queens/Announcements |
Main Stage |
| 7 pm – 11 pm | The Liquid Pleasure Super Show | Main Stage – Main Street |
| 11 pm | Friday Night Activities End |
Saturday, October 1, 2016
| Time | Event | Location |
| 7 am – 11 am | Pumpkin Weigh In | Main Street
|
| 9 am – 5 pm | Retail Vendors and Crafts
Food Vendors Open |
Railroad /Main Streets
|
| 9 am – 11 am | The Anchormen Gospel Quartet | Depot Deck |
| 9:30-1:30 pm | Pumpkin Cruise In | Pine Street |
| 10:00- 5 pm | Kid’s Zone (Bouncy Houses) | Ash Street |
| 11:00-11:30
11:30-12:30 12:30-1:00 |
Pumpkin Creation Registration
Pumpkin Creation Contest Pumpkin Creation Judging |
Spring Hope Town Hall |
| 11:30-2:30 pm | Seventh Hour Groove Band | Main Stage |
| 1:30 | Pumpkin Creation Winners Announcement | Main Stage |
| 2:30 | Introduction of Parade Grand Marshal – Lynda Loveland | Main Stage |
| 3 pm | Pumpkin Festival Parade | Downtown |
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Ed. Note: Thank you to Jan Mills for her assistance and this tentative schedule. Note that it is subject to change prior to the festival kick-off.
