New Hampshire Pumpkin Festival facts for kids
Quick facts for kids New Hampshire Pumpkin Festival |
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A few of the tens of thousands of pumpkins on display at the 2000 Keene Pumpkin Festival
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| Genre | Autumn, Halloween, pumpkin lighting |
| Frequency | October |
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| Inaugurated | 1991 |
| Founder | Nancy Sporborg |
| Most recent | October 27–28, 2023 |
| Next event | October 26, 2024 |
| Attendance | 40,000 (2017) |
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| Sponsor | Zippo Manufacturing Company |
The New Hampshire Pumpkin Festival (also known as Pumpkin Fest) is a fun event held in Laconia, New Hampshire, United States. It happens every year before Halloween. People in New Hampshire try to gather the most lit jack-o'-lanterns in one place. They want to set or beat the world record. The city of Keene, New Hampshire used to host the festival for 24 years. Keene held the world record for many years.
In 2014, the festival gained attention. Some large student gatherings near the festival caused problems. Because of this, the Keene City Council did not allow the festival to happen there the next year. Laconia became the new host city in 2015. The Lakes Region Chamber of Commerce took over organizing the festival. A new, smaller Keene Pumpkin Festival started in 2017. It is organized by Let it Shine and is meant for families.
Festival History
For its first ten years, the Keene Pumpkin Festival often set new records. On October 25, 2003, they had 28,952 lit jack-o'-lanterns. This was recognized by Guinness World Records. But on October 21, 2006, Boston, Massachusetts, broke the record with 30,128 pumpkins. Keene got the record back on October 19, 2013. They displayed 30,581 lit pumpkins.
The organizers try every year to beat the record. They ask businesses, schools, and people to make and donate jack-o'-lanterns. These pumpkins are shown on huge shelves and all over the town center. The festival also has fireworks, music, and food. Many people from New Hampshire and nearby states come to visit. After the festival, volunteers take the pumpkins away. They are given to pig farmers to use as food.
The event usually happens on a Saturday in mid-to-late October. In 2009, about 70,000 people came to the Keene Pumpkin Festival. They had 29,762 pumpkins, a new record for Keene. However, it was not enough to beat the world record that year. The biggest crowd ever was in 2006, with about 80,000 visitors. Keene's population is only about 23,000 people.
In 2010, the first organizers, Center Stage Cheshire County, stopped running the event. This left the festival's future uncertain for 2011. But new organizers were found, and the festival continued. It took place on October 22, 2011.
Moving to Laconia
During the 2014 festival, some large parties happened near the festival grounds. These parties were not part of the festival. They involved students from Keene State College and other colleges. These gatherings led to some problems and disruptions. Because of this, the Keene City Council decided not to allow the festival in Keene the next year.
The organizers then moved the event to Laconia, New Hampshire. The 25th pumpkin festival was held there on October 24, 2015. They displayed 9,567 pumpkins that year. At the same time, a new group started the Monadnock Pumpkin Festival. It was held in Swanzey, New Hampshire, near Keene. About 5,500 pumpkins were displayed there.
Let it Shine, Inc. organized the festival from 2011 to 2015. After 2016, the Lakes Region Chamber of Commerce became the main organizer. They had helped with the 2015 festival. In 2017, the Keene City Council approved a new, smaller pumpkin festival. Let it Shine organized this new festival in Keene's Central Square. It was held on October 29, 2017. This festival was made smaller and more family-friendly. It had a limit of 5,000 pumpkins and no vendors. This was done to avoid problems like those in 2014.
In July 2020, the Lakes Region Chamber of Commerce canceled the festival. This was due to the COVID-19 pandemic in New Hampshire. The 2021 festival was also canceled. The festival returned on October 15 and 16, 2022.
Yearly Pumpkin Count
- 1991 - Harvest Festival - 600
- 1992 - 1st World Record - 1,628
- 1993 - 2nd World Record - 4,817
- 1994 - 3rd World Record - 10,540
- 1995 - "Rainy Pumpkin Festival" - 9,812
- 1996 - 4th World Record - 13,044
- 1997 - 5th World Record - 13,432
- 1998 - 6th World Record - 17,693
- 1999 - Pumpkin Festival - 16,349
- 2000 - 7th World Record - 23,727
- 2001 - Pumpkin Festival - 22,633
- 2002 - "Second Rainy Pumpkin Festival" - 18,882
- 2003 - 8th World Record - 28,952
- 2004 - Pumpkin Festival - 27,584
- 2005 - "Year of the Flood" Pumpkin Festival - 22,157
- 2006 - Pumpkin Festival - 24,682
- 2007 - Pumpkin Festival - 25,644
- 2008 - Pumpkin Festival - 22,568
- 2009 - Pumpkin Festival - 29,762
- 2010 - 20th Annual Pumpkin Festival - 22,943
- 2011 - Pumpkin Festival, "Let it Shine!" - 16,186
- 2012 - Pumpkin Festival - 29,381
- 2013 - 9th World Record - 30,581
- 2014 - Pumpkin Festival - 21,912
- 2015 - 25th Pumpkin Festival (Laconia Pumpkin Fest) - 9,567
See also
- Pumpkin
- Pumpkin festival (for other such festivals)
- Pumpkin queen
