It’s that time of year again! The Great Calabasas Pumpkin Festival is here! I actually think this festival is the most fitting for the city since we are named after a pumpkin. Check out more info below.
The annual Calabasas Pumpkin Festival is back with an array of activities and entertainment for the whole family.
Organizers gathered at the Mercedes-Benz dealership in Calabasas Sept. 17 to mark the start of the harvest-themed celebration that will feature art and craft vendors, games and activities for the entire family, including a car show and a costume contest.
The City of Calabasas and the Calabasas Chamber of Commerce will present the two-day event taking place along Lost Hills Road and in Juan Bautista de Anza Park.
The festivities will run from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sat. and Sun., Oct. 15 and 16.
The pumpkin fest has a long history in the community. It began in 1966 and has become a tradition for residents of Calabasas, a city that derives its name from the Spanish word “Calabaza,” meaning “pumpkin” or “gourd”.
Organizers moved the event from Paramount Ranch to de Anza Park more than a decade ago. The 2016 event coincides with the city’s 25th anniversary.
“We are here to celebrate the city’s heritage,” Calabasas Mayor James Bozajian told attendees at the kickoff mixer last week.
The festival brings the community together for pumpkin-themed fun. Each year, an estimated 12,000 children and adults from throughout the region come to Calabasas to enjoy the celebration.
In addition to family contests, a pumpkin patch and rides, 2016 activities will include a beer garden and business expo; a car show; dozens of booths selling food, arts and crafts; musical performances; and live reptile shows.
Admission to the festival is $5, which includes inflatable rides and a giant slide, pie-eating contests, games and access to a vendor area and fun zone.
Children who dress up for the Saturday morning costume parade Oct. 15 get free admission until 11 a.m. Parking is free.
To make the event successful, volunteers from high schools, businesses and the community are needed to fill shifts at the booths and to help with activities.
For more information, visit www.calabasaspumpkinfestival.com
