The pumpkins are here: Full day of Pumpkinfest fun planned for Saturday

LACONIA — There’s things for kids, things for adults, and you can even bring your pet, so long as they’re on a leash. The event kicks off Friday night, but Saturday, Oct. 28, is when the 2023 New Hampshire Pumpkin Festival squashes in even more fun. 

The festival hits the ground running at 9 a.m. with the Runaway Pumpkin, a run — or walk — with both 5K and 10K distances each starting and ending at Opechee Park. The event benefits the WOW Trail in Laconia, visit wowtrail.org to learn more.

No need to strain too hard in the road race, because the rest of the festival kicks off at 11 a.m. That’s when the three main Pumpkin Festival sites open for the day.

The City Hall parking lot, located along Beacon Street East, will host a beer garden, a craft and artisan show, many vendors including food trucks, one of the two kids zones, and a “nonprofit fun patch” showcasing social service agencies.

Veterans Square is the can’t-miss feature of the event, with a pumpkin display 10 feet high and more than 70 feet long, featuring jack-o’-lanterns carved by local residents, organizations and school groups. This is also where to find tickets for train rides, which leave out of the nearby station, and ravenous festival-goers can compete in the pie-eating contests that take place every hour on the hour. There second kids zone is at Veterans Square.

The third site for festival events is in the parking lot near Hector’s Fine Foods and Spirits, on Beacon Street West. There’s another beer garden there, as well as a cornhole tournament and an outdoor adventure park.

A children’s costume parade will take place at 1 p.m., starting at the Belknap Mill. The Wicked Witches of the Lakes Region will make appearances at noon and 3 p.m. There are also street performers, musicians and DJs to keep everyone entertained.

“We have more to offer than we have ever offered before, for all age groups,” said Karmen Gifford, president of the Lakes Region Chamber of Commerce, which organizes the festival. “We’ve built it, and the weather’s looking gorgeous.”

Mayor Andrew Hosmer, who will be among the hopefuls in the 1 p.m. heat of the pie-eating contest, said that days like Saturday give the city a chance to shine.

“I know our goal, from the city’s perspective, and my personal perspective, I want everyone who attends to have a great time,” Hosmer said. “Laconia is the best at hosting community gatherings, whether it’s Motorcycle Week or Multicultural Day, or Pumpkinfest, we are thrilled to have visitors come to our city and enjoy, and for our residents to come out and enjoy each other and the season. I look forward to doing this for many years to come.”

While there’s no admission cost to attend the festival, a couple of venues in downtown Laconia are offering ticketed events. Amy Grant is performing at the Colonial Theatre at 8 p.m., and the “junk rock” band Recycled Percussion is performing at The CAKE, located in Veterans Square, at 2 and 7 p.m.

A bit farther out of town, other events are planned to coincide with the festival. The Airport Commons Plaza in Gilford is hosting an Autumn Fest, including food and drinks, a bounce house, obstacles, games and live music. There’s also a Halloween party at Tanger Outlets in Tilton, and corn mazes at Beans & Greens in Gilford as well as Moulton Farm in Meredith.