What started out as an idea by Wally Thurow in 1956 to offer something creative for the students of Sycamore has grown from a neighborhood display on his front yard into the town’s biggest city-wide event, beginning on Wednesday with the Opening Ceremony and cake cutting and concluding on Sunday afternoon with a parade.
The festival has over 1000 entries in the Lions Club Decorated Pumpkin Display, two carnivals, many not-for-profit vendors, three indoor craft shows, Saturday entertainment, and various activities, and it concludes on Sunday with a 90-minute parade.
Our History
Back in 1956, Wally Thurow, who is known as Sycamore’s “Mr. Pumpkin,” began what was to become the Sycamore Pumpkin Festival when he displayed a few decorated pumpkins on his front lawn to turn Halloween into a time of fun and creativity. In 1962, through the efforts of Mr. Pumpkin and the Sycamore Lions Club, the Sycamore Pumpkin Festival became an official celebration in Sycamore.
Every year, the Pumpkin Festival unites more than 30 DeKalb County not-for-profit groups, working to provide a weekend of Halloween fun for all. The Courthouse lawn is the center of activities, including thousands of decorated pumpkins on display, there are also art and craft shows, a house walk, a pie eating contest, a carnival, a fun fair, a race, and other events. The festival is concludes with a giant parade on Sunday afternoon.
Our Mission
The Sycamore Pumpkin Festival is a community celebration, showcasing our local not-for-profit organizations.
Our Purpose
The Sycamore Pumpkin Festival Committee is responsible for coordinating the annual Sycamore Pumpkin Festival, a family-oriented festival, to be held in the fall of each year. The festival promotes awareness of the City of Sycamore and provides and opportunity for DeKalb County not-for-profit organizations to participate in fund raising activities, community education, and enrichment.
⏰𝐎𝐍𝐋𝐘 𝟏 𝐃𝐀𝐘 𝐑𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫!
2025 Sycamore Pumpkin Festival Parade and Non Profit Vendor Applications are NOW OPEN!! 🎃
Don’t miss your opportunity to be a part of this wonderful community event!
All applications are due on Monday, September 1.
https://sycamorepumpkinfestival.com/parade-application/
https://sycamorepumpkinfestival.com/vendors/
#SycamorePumpkinFestival #PumpkinsAtTheMovies
⏰𝐎𝐍𝐋𝐘 4 𝐃𝐀𝐘𝐒 𝐑𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫!
2025 Sycamore Pumpkin Festival Parade and Non Profit Vendor Applications are NOW OPEN!! 🎃
Don’t miss your opportunity to be a part of this wonderful community event!
All applications are due on Monday, September 1.
https://sycamorepumpkinfestival.com/parade-application/
https://sycamorepumpkinfestival.com/vendors/
#SycamorePumpkinFestival #PumpkinsAtTheMovies
⏰𝐎𝐍𝐋𝐘 𝟏𝟐 𝐃𝐀𝐘𝐒 𝐑𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫!
2025 Sycamore Pumpkin Festival Parade and Non Profit Vendor Applications are NOW OPEN!! 🎃
Don’t miss your opportunity to be a part of this wonderful community event!
All applications are due on Monday, September 1.
https://sycamorepumpkinfestival.com/parade-application/
https://sycamorepumpkinfestival.com/vendors/
#SycamorePumpkinFestival #PumpkinsAtTheMovies
2025 Sycamore Pumpkin Festival Parade and Non Profit Vendor Applications are NOW OPEN!! 🎃
We know…it’s only August! ☀️📚🚌 But now September 1st is ONLY 4 WEEKS AWAY!!! 😱
Don’t miss your opportunity to be a part of this wonderful community event!
All applications are due on Monday, September 1.
https://sycamorepumpkinfestival.com/parade-application/
https://sycamorepumpkinfestival.com/vendors/
#SycamorePumpkinFestival #PumpkinsAtTheMovies
2025 Sycamore Pumpkin Festival Parade and Non Profit Vendor Applications are NOW OPEN!! 🎃
We know…it’s only July! ☀️⛳️ How can we be talking about pumpkin festival already??!! 🎃🍁
Well…guess what?? September 1st is ONLY 7 WEEKS AWAY!!! 😱
All applications are due on Monday, September 1.
https://sycamorepumpkinfestival.com/parade-application/
https://sycamorepumpkinfestival.com/vendors/
#SycamorePumpkinFestival #PumpkinsAtTheMovies
2025 Sycamore Pumpkin Festival Parade and Non Profit Vendor Applications are NOW OPEN!! 🎃
All applications are due on Monday, September 1.
https://sycamorepumpkinfestival.com/parade-application/
https://sycamorepumpkinfestival.com/vendors/
#SycamorePumpkinFestival #PumpkinsAtTheMovies
Congratulations to the 2025 Sycamore High School Graduating Seniors who were awarded a Bart Desch Memorial Scholarship! 🎃
• Anya Berry
• Justin Forsberg
• Julia Hatar
• Anamaria Juarez
• Alyssa Stacy
We wish you all the best in your future endeavors! 🎓
Congratulations to the 2025 Sycamore Pumpkin Festival Theme Winners 🎃 🎉
L to R:
• Honorable Mention, Lucas Faivre ~ “Pumpkins on Vacation”
• Theme Winner, Rayven Rosas ~ “Pumpkins at the Movies”
• Honorable Mention, Annabelle Hochstatter ~ “Pumpkins in Paradise”
Join us for the announcement of the 2025 SycamorePumpkin Festival Theme Contest Winners! 🎃
Wednesday, May 21
6:00 PM
DeKalb County Courthouse
Front steps
In the event of rain, we will meet in the lobby of the Sycamore City Hall building on the corner of Somonauk and State. Please enter through the Somonauk entrance.
🎃DEADLINE EXTENDED for the 2025 Pumpkin Festival Theme Contest submissions!!
➡️➡️Entries due by April 14, 2025.
Open to all Sycamore grade school students Kindergarten-5th grade.
This includes Sycamore CUSD 427, St. Mary’s School in Sycamore, ACS Cornerstone and home schooled students residing in Sycamore.
Visit https://sycamorepumpkinfestival.com/theme/
📣 Applications are due April 15, 2025 for the Sycamore Pumpkin Festival Bart Desch Scholarships. 🎃 We will be giving a $1,000 scholarship for a senior within Sycamore High School that currently participates as a member in a school or community organization that’s mission involves serving the Sycamore community and surrounding areas.
Applications can be submitted through the Naviance program or via the link below.
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdLllkU-jI6Sb7HqNkzRbECNnvDgvVCnOy4A3Px_t6JReDu8Q/viewform
📣 Hey Sycamore students…while you’re on spring break, get your 🎃2025 Pumpkin Festival Theme Contest submissions written!!
Entries due by April 12, 2025.
Open to all Sycamore grade school students Kindergarten-5th grade.
This includes Sycamore CUSD 427, St. Mary’s School in Sycamore, ACS Cornerstone and home schooled students residing in Sycamore.
Visit https://sycamorepumpkinfestival.com/theme/
