Houston Pumpkin Festival is a really large family event held the second weekend of October — October 11 to 13 this year — when the borough bursts with three nights of entertainment, eating and having fun with friends, a lot of friends, thousands of friends.

The festival is open Friday and Saturday from 10:00 AM until 7:00 PM, and Sunday from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM.

Everyone is invited to enter the scarecrow contest — it’s free, and cash prizes will be awarded. The signup form is here. Scarecrows that are frightening, gruesome, bloody, make a political statement, are distasteful or not family friendly will be disqualified by the Festival Committee, making the scarecrow contest 100% fun. These hand-made scarecrows are displayed all weekend. People who don’t stuff a scarecrow tend to snap selfies with their favorite one and make a donation.

Always a good time. Fun for the entire family. Lots of crafts.

Posted to Facebook by Robbin Friesel in 2018

More than 150 arts and craft vendors are expected to be selling an amazing selection of hand-crafted products and popular items too long to list.

The Houston Volunteer Fire Department booth will serve funnel cakes and slices of pizza. Pumpkin festival merchandise will be available. Food trucks will be on hand. Altogether, more than 20 food vendors will be present.

The annual festival pumpkin pie eating contest will draw a crowd as people try to beat the record for eating a whole pie. Cash prizes are awarded. People have to be 18 or older to participate, or have a parent or guardian sign a release.

The parade gets moving at 10 AM Saturday along Pike Street. It passes through town for about an hour with floats, local fire departments with their equipment, high school marching bands, dance groups, musical acts and candy.

Other entertainment includes the Canon-McMillan Steel Drum Band, Canonsburg’s Ashley Mullens and Black Dog Hollow, a party band that plays quite a mix of music and takes audience requests.

The festival prince and princess will be crowned from Allison Elementary School.

An inflatable slide and bouncer, decorating pumpkins, face painting, a rock wall and other children’s games and activities will be at the festival. Children have to be accompanied by an adult.

Admission is free. Proceeds from everything that happens at the festival helps the Houston VFD buy firefighting equipment including breathing apparatus, hoses and firetrucks. It’s their biggest fundraiser of the year.

Wonderful event! The variety of vendors, pleasant atmosphere and food selection make for wonderful evening.

Posted to Facebook by Susan Marie

The Houston Pumpkin Festival happens rain or shine at the Houston American Legion Picnic Grounds, 124 West Pike Street, Houston, PA 15342 from 10:00 AM until 7:00 PM on Friday and Saturday, and from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM on Sunday. Parking and free shuttle are at the Houston Ballfield. Limited accessible parking is available at the festival grounds. An ATM and restrooms are on site. No pets or bicycles at the event.

Houston Pumpkin Festival and parking