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CITY OF HIGHWOOD, IL HOSTS 2nd ANNUAL RECORD BREAKING GREAT PUMPKIN FEST 2011

HIGHWOOD, IL (OCTOBER 19-22, 2011) –The City of Highwood, Illinois is ready to make pumpkin carving history, as host of the Great Pumpkin Fest of 2011. The four-day festival will bring people together from all over as they attempt to break the Guinness World Records for the most jack-o-lanterns lit in one location. Plans call for 32,000 pumpkins to light up Highwood on Saturday, October 22nd, to break the current world record set in 2006 of 30,128 pumpkins in Boston, MA.

 

Additionally, the cities of Highwood, and Keene, New Hampshire, a city that has held a famous Pumpkin Fest for twenty years, are pleased to announce a challenge of astronomical proportions - the dual attempt at breaking the Guinness World Records of most jack-o-lanterns lit at once in separate locations. Highwood Alderman Eric Falberg decided to reach out to Keene and extended a friendly competition invite this past July. Much to his surprise, they agreed, and the deal was officially sealed on September 14th when Highwood Mayor Pecaro flew out to meet Keene Mayor P. Dale Pregent, where they held a press conference announcing the challenge (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R1r-7hAk0iw&feature=player_embedded)! These dueling community-hosted pumpkin festivals will be held simultaneously, with the lighting beginning at 5:30pm CST. Both small towns have decided to come together in the spirit of friendly competition to showcase how two separate cities can shine and exemplify the beauty of community involvement.

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The Great Highwood Pumpkin Fest kicks off on Wednesday, October 19th and will culminate on Saturday, October 22nd. The four-day family fun festivities leading up to the record breaking pumpkin lighting will offer plenty of opportunities for people to come together, carve pumpkins and place them on one of the Great Pumpkin Walls for display, and then take them back home after the record breaking attempt on Sunday, October 23rd, which is saved for rain date/viewing day (all remaining pumpkins will be composted).

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The pumpkin carving commences on Monday, October 17th at 3pm (two days before the actual start of Pumpkin Fest), with the kick-off of the School Pumpkin Carving Challenge, where 32 North Shore schools will compete to carve the most pumpkins with the winning school taking home $10,000 ($1,000 for second place and $500 for third place).  The school challenge will run daily from October 17th-21st; 3-8pm the 17th-18th, 3-9pm the 19th-20th and 3-5pm, on the 21st.   For every pumpkin carved $1 will be donated back to the participating school – a win-win for everyone! Of course carving continues until 5:30pm on Saturday, October 22nd.

 

Each day of the festival will include the Highwood Evening Gourmet Farmers Market at City Hall Park (17 Highwood Ave) from 3-9pm with some 40+ vendors, live music, haunted and fantasy hay rides, pumpkin carving stations, massive pumpkin displays, ceremonial lighting of the towers each evening at 6:30, and much more!

 

Last year, the city hosted its first Great Record Breaking Pumpkin Fest of 2010, drawing record crowds and lighting 26,287 jack-o-lanterns. This year the city has added more events and activities in hopes of breaking the current Guinness World Records. The pumpkin walls will be displayed all around Highwood, with Pumpkin Fest Central located at the Highwood’s City Hall Park, 17 Highwood Avenue, beginning at 3pm, Wednesday, October 19th, 2011.

 

“We are going to break the world record this year by working with pumpkin farmers from all over the Midwest from Wisconsin to downstate Illinois, and have pumpkin carving by our schools, religious organizations, community organizations and the local military bases,” says Alderman Eric Falberg, the pumpkin mastermind behind this event.

 

A special thanks to all of our biggest sponsors, who helped make this event possible:  Mom.com, Powerteam International, Whole Foods Market, Walgreens, Foss Swim School, Equinox, AthletiCo, Highwood Chamber of Commerce, Northbrook Toyota, Coca-Cola Refreshments, Burris Equipment, Pioneer Local, Events by M Ltd., La Casa de Isaac, Sunset Foods, Bridie McKenna’s, Bent Fork Bakery, Buffo’s, Little Tommy's Plumbing, Buffo's, and McDonald's.

 

About The City of Highwood

Highwood was founded in 1868 by William Wallace Everts, a Chicago civic leader and world-renown educator. His concept of a family-based community has endured for more than a century. The beautiful Everts Park, in the heart of downtown Highwood, has been named in the founder's honor. Benches and trees in the park celebrate and remember people who, through turbulent times and peaceful ones, built and sustained the community. Many of Highwood's street names recall Everts' family and friends whom the founder encouraged to build homes here. Residents of Swedish, Irish, Italian, Latino and other heritages have since populated the community, each enriching the community through their cultural traditions.

The Village of Highwood was incorporated in 1887. The name briefly became Village of Fort Sheridan and then City of Fort Sheridan. In 1904, the community officially became known as the City of Highwood. Fort Sheridan, a former army base slightly northeast of the City, has had a profound influence on Highwood's development, and it continues to do so today as part of its land, incorporated into the City, nearly doubled Highwood in size. Today, Highwood is blending the past and present with exciting new plans for its future.

The City of Highwood, IL administrative offices are located at 17 Highwood Avenue
Highwood, Illinois 60040.  For more information, please visit www.highwoodpumpkinfest.com
 Tel: 847.432.1924.

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