By WKTV Staff
joanne@wktv.org
Zeeland’s oldest festival is back, Pumpkinfest! – Celebrating community, family fun, and fall activities for more than 30 years.
The theme for 2021 is “Pumpkinfest Barnyard Bash!” Pumpkinfest is a two-day event that features a number of free and low-cost events that can be enjoyed by all ages. This year’s festival is Friday, Oct. 1, and Saturday, Oct. 2.
Stay up to date on all the Pumpkinfest happenings by liking Zeeland Festivals, Inc.’s Facebook page or visiting www.zeelandfestivals.com.
For the 6th year, Pumpkinfest has coordinated a community art centered project known as Pumpkinfest Avenue Art. Pumpkinfest has invited the community to join in the celebration by participating with Pumpkinfest Avenue Art to express their creative talents.
Pumpkinfest will host a place for kids to be creative, learn and play – KidZfest. Within the KidZfest area, families will discover, inflatables, petting zoos, stage performances, pony rides, games, snacks and more. KidZfest will be located on Church Street just south of Main Avenue.
The community is invited to gather Friday, Oct.1, for Dessert on Us at 6 p.m. on Church Street – a celebration of community and a complimentary donut and cider. A sweet treat, combined with an evening of family activities, including the Kids Tractor Pull at 4 p.m. on Main Street, outdoor movie showing: Coco at 7:30 p.m. in the splash pad and KidzFest events all day long.
Friday and Saturday Pumpkinfest will feature live, outdoor, Music on Main Street concerts in Zeeland’s Social District, accompanied by food trucks and local restaurants. The concert line up is:
- Friday 7-10PM – Pretty Rage
- Saturday 12-3PM – Dune Grass
- Saturday 4-7PM – Catfish and the Main
- Saturday 8-11PM – Rock Shop
Other exciting Pumpkinfest attractions include:
- Saturday 8:30 a.m. – Pumpkinfest 5K Run, organized by the Zeeland Athletic Boosters and hosted Zeeland West High School, 3390 100th Ave.
- Saturday 9 a.m.-5 p.m. – Civil War Reenactors at the Dekker Huis Museum, 37 E. Main
- Saturday 11 a.m. – Zeeland Community Band Concert, corner of Main/Church
- Saturday noon – Pumpkin Roll (bring your own pumpkin) Zeeland Christian School hill, 334 W. Central
- Saturday 3 p.m. – The much-anticipated Pumpkinfest Parade will march down city streets. The parade will feature marching bands, walking groups, tractors, and of course floats representing this year’s theme. The Parade Route is as follows: west on Main Avenue from Centennial Street to State Street, south on State Street to Central Avenue, east on Central Avenue ending at Maple Street.
Pumpkinfest is organized by Zeeland Festivals, Inc. and sponsored by the generosity of many local businesses and organizations.
The complete Pumpkinfest schedule and list of sponsors can be found on their website.
