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.
💰 2024 Sycamore Lions Club Pumpkin Festival Raffle Winners
• $3000 Cash -Janis Cafferkey-Maple Park IL
• $500 Meijer gift card-Chuck Rose-Sycamore IL
• $100 Paulsen Appliance gift card-Joan Bickner-Sycamore IL
• 1 round of golf for 4, Sycamore golf club-Jill Carter-Sycamore IL
• $100 Headon’s Meat Market gift card-Mike Kasperski•Plainfield IL
• $50 Los Rancheros-Jay Ruby-Sycamore IL
• $100 Resource Bank gift card-Joe McGuire-Morris IL
• $50 Sorrento’s gift card-Bret DeGood-Geneva IL
• $50 Tom and Jerry’s-Dan Marcinkowski-Sycamore IL
• 2 Full Service Car Washes, Ralph’s-Randy Holley-Lee IL
• $30 Rise and Shine and $30 Syc. Café-Kelly Graham-Sycamore IL
🏆2024 Sycamore Pumpkin Parade Marching Band Winners🎶
Class 1 HS Bands
• West Aurora Blackhawk Band – 1st Place
• Central HS Marching Rockets – 2nd Place
Class 2 HS Bands
• Plano HS Marching Band – 1st Place
• Forreston HS Redbird Regiment – 2nd Place
Class 3 HS Bands
• Marching Cogs – 1st Place
• Somonauk Marching Bobcats – 2nd Place
Best Auxiliary Units – West Aurora Blackhawk Band
Best Drum Major – Plano HS Marching Band
Beat Percussion – West Aurora Blackhawk Band
MS Bands
• Huntley/Clinton Rosette Middle School – 1st Place
• Kaneland Harter Middle School – 2nd Place
Many thanks to the bands who marched exhibition only:
Sycamore Marching Spartans
Huskie Band
DeKalb Marching Barbs
Indian Creek HS Marching Band
🏆2024 Sycamore Pumpkin Parade Winners 🎃
• Best of Parade – The Aldis & Pulliam Family
• Best Use of Theme – Ideal Industries, Inc.
• Wally Thurow Crowd Pleaser Award – Dimensions Dance Academy
Organization Awards
• 1st Place – Roper Romp, DeKalb, IL • • 2nd Place – Tails Humane Society
• 3rd Place – Habitat for Humanity of DeKalb County
Non-Commercial Awards
• 1st Place – The Evangelical Lutheran Church of St. John
• 2nd Place – Caravia Family Light Show
• 3rd Place – Aurora Christian School – Sycamore
Commercial Awards
• 1st Place – Communities By Grainger • 2nd Place – Sycamore Orthodontics and Pediatric Dentistry
• 3rd Place – Kunes Auto Group of Sycamore
Thank you to everyone who participated in the parade and congratulations to all the winners!!
The amazing “Pumpkins Around the World” displays need to be picked up by the end of the day Tuesday, October 29.
Any displays remaining on Wednesday will be disposed of.
Thanks to Lovett’s Towing and Recovery for transporting our golf carts to and from the Sycamore Park District. 🚛
And many thanks to the Sycamore Park District for loaning them to us for the festival! 🍁
It really does take a village to put on a fabulous weekend like this 🧡🎃
2024 Sycamore Kiwanis Pie Eating Contest!!🎃🥧
Congratulations to all who (tried 😝) and won!! 🏆
#SycamorePumpkinFestival
#SycamorePumpkinFest
#PumpkinsAroundTheWorld
#TheMostWonderfulTimeOfTheYear
🎃 2024 SYCAMORE LIONS CLUB PUMPKIN CONTEST WINNERS!! 🏆
Largest Pumpkin – 220” – The Lingle Family
Pick of the Patch – Sonja Flatter
President’s Award – Palm Family
Congratulations to all!!
#SycamorePumpkinFestival
#SycamorePumpkinFest
#PumpkinsAroundTheWorld
#TheMostWonderfulTimeOfTheYear
☀️GOOD MORNING SYCAMORE PUMPKIN FESTIVAL!🎃
We opened today’s festivities with the singing of our national anthem by Trevor McDonald and Terri Crain Goodman. 🎶🇺🇸🎤
It’s gonna be a beautiful day in Sycamore, with highs in the mid 50’s !! so come on down and enjoy the festivities! Our downtown vendors will start opening in just a little while for some great food and merchandise, we have a record number of pumpkins on the lawn this year at 1537 and all 3 of our craft shows are open and running today!
You can find all the information on our website at sycamorepumpkinfestival.com.
#SycamorePumpkinFestival
#SycamorePumpkinFest
#PumpkinsAroundTheWorld
#TheMostWonderfulTimeOfTheYearo
🏆Below is a link to the list of 2024 Sycamore Lions Club Pumpkin Display Winners! 🎃🧡
We will continue to post pictures of winning pumpkin entries throughout the day today!
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1UZLyYS8I3syF1U0_cAiSjaHK_oPxxpy2/view?usp=sharing
#SycamorePumpkinFestival
#SycamorePumpkinFest
#PumpkinsAroundTheWorld
#TheMostWonderfulTimeOfTheYear
Teen Carnival 🎡
State Street & Sacramento Street
$35 UNLIMITED Wristband Special until 8:00 pm!
#SycamorePumpkinFestival
#SycamorePumpkinFest
#PumpkinsAroundTheWorld
#TheMostWonderfulTimeOfTheYear
Kiddie Carnival 🎡
Somonauk Street & Elm Street
$35 UNLIMITED Wristband Special until 8:00 pm!
#SycamorePumpkinFestival
#SycamorePumpkinFest
#PumpkinsAroundTheWorld
#TheMostWonderfulTimeOfTheYear
🏆Below is a link to the list of 2024 Sycamore Lions Club Pumpkin Display Winners! 🎃🧡
Pictured is the winner of the President’s Award the Palm Family.
Congratulations to all of the winners!
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1UZLyYS8I3syF1U0_cAiSjaHK_oPxxpy2/view?usp=sharing
#SycamorePumpkinFestival
#SycamorePumpkinFest
#PumpkinsAroundTheWorld
#TheMostWonderfulTimeOfTheYear
