Illinois' 'Pumpkin Capital of the World' Is Hosting Its Iconic Festival Now

The Morton Pumpkin Festival is still going strong after more than five decades.

Hailed as the “Pumpkin Capital of the World,” the Morton Pumpkin Festival is happening now through Saturday (September 18). This weekend marks its 55th year.

The Morton Chamber of Commerce launched the inaugural festival in 1967, aiming for the annual tradition to serve as a fundraiser and as a celebration of the start of the pumpkin harvest season. It’s also the start of Libby’s Pumpkin Plant’s canning season. The beloved festival started bearing the title the “Pumpkin Capital of the World” in 1978, when the state governor at the time signed a proclamation deeming it so. That’s because 85% of the world’s canned pumpkin was processed at Libby’s Pumpkin Plant, the Morton Pumpkin Festival explains of its history. It continues:

“Today, the Morton Pumpkin Festival includes over 30 special events and venues hosted and organized by over 1,500 volunteers. The festival welcomes an estimated 75,000 visitors. Each year, a theme for the festival is selected through a voting process by community members and the Morton Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors.”

If you miss out on this year’s pumpkin festival (or if you’re just looking for more family-friendly fall activities to fill out the season), Illinois offers tons of things to do. The Chicago Heights area offers 10 popular pumpkin patches, and there are plenty of apple orchards around Chicago, too. Chicago also offers haunted ghost tours, corn mazes and more. Find more info here.

Find more info about the Morton Pumpkin Festival here.