Nekoosa Giant Pumpkin Festival is Oct. 1-2

NEKOOSA, Wis. (WSAW) - For more than two decades, crowds have visited Nekoosa for the annual Giant Pumpkin Festival.

The event is Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 1-2 at Riverside Park in Nekoosa. The event includes a carnival, craft show, car show, tractor show, farmer’s market and of course the giant pumpkin drop.

But it isn’t just giant pumpkins people will have the chance to see.

“We have probably anywhere between 30 and 40 giant pumpkins that come in, it’s not just the pumpkins we have like squash and watermelon. And so it’s all the giant fruits that are there and vegetables. So it’s a great activity with lots to do. We actually have the great privilege of having Miss Wisconsin coming on Saturday as well... from 1:30-5:30 p.m. She’ll help pull the rope to have the giant pumpkin drop, and then Miss Wisconsin Rapids will also be joining her as well. Very exciting and lots to do. And on Sunday we have our car show and then on the end of Sunday, we have the pumpkin drop. And then the announcements of all of our raffle prizes,” said Heather Sairs from the Nekoosa Giant Pumpkin Festival.

The event is Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Cost is $4, kids age 4-7 are $1 and under 3 is free. There is also on-site parking available for $5 or you can park at the Nekoosa schools and take the pumpkin shuttle for free. Riverside Park is located at 916 Prospect Ave. in Nekoosa.

Pumpkin drops are Saturday at 5 p.m. and Sunday at 4 p.m.

NewsChannel 7 is a proud sponsor of this event.

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