The second annual “Enchanted Pumpkin Festival” will be held in downtown Kewanee on Saturday, Oct. 21 from 10 am to 5 pm. The festival was started last year by a group of volunteers with the goal of raising money for a city amphitheater. That’s still the goal.
This year’s event is even larger than last years, said committee member Tiffany Bockewitz, owner of the Blissful Branch Boutique.
“It’s definitely got a lot more options than last year,” she said.
The festival’s first year drew large crowds, and this year, vendor spots filled up quickly. There are still spots available for “Trunk or Treat,” a trick or treat event where families and kids can turn out in costumes and collect candy from area organizations and businesses. The event, which will be held that day from 3 to 5 pm, will be located in the Good’s Furniture parking lot and sponsored by the Kewanee furniture store.
The list of vendors, entertainment, and food and drink options are numerous. Here’s five things to do while attending the festival:
Shop the vendors. A wide variety of vendors will be on hand including candle vendors, craft and apparel vendors, jewelry, including permanent jewelry, and home decor. Kid’s items will also be on sale. Tastefully Simple will make their second appearance, and a tarot card reader is also booked.
Eat, drink and be merry. The list of food and drink vendors is longer than last year. There will be something for almost everyone’s tastes. The Downtown Eatery & Bakery will return, along with Irene’s Kitchen, L&M Sweets, Sweet Spot Cakery, Phat Boyz Barbeque, Azteca Food Truck, Cafe 29, Famous Dave’s, Las Delicias, C&C Kettle Corn, Pop of the Morning, and Cerno’s Bar & Grill, which will be serving up fall-inspired beer and spirits. Beck’s will also be selling their popular pumpkin bars.
Listen to the music. Two musical groups will be performing. “The Incredible 45’s” and “Bell Field” will be playing throughout the day.
Have fun with the kids. There will be plenty of activities to keep the kids happy. Pumpkin painting will be offered, as well as pony rides from TriCo Equestrian Center. The Kewanee Kiwanis Club will be providing “pumpkin bowling,” while Painted Cupcake will provide face painting. In addition, the banks will be offering several activities and games just for the kids.
Trick or Treat. “Trunk or Treat” is back. The event, sponsored by Good’s Furniture, will be held in the Good’s Main Street parking lot from 3 to 5 pm. Kids are invited to dress up in their favorite costume and stroll the parking lot, collecting plenty of treats as they go.
In addition to these activities, there will also be a booth set up for a 50/50 drawing, and the Farmer’s Market will have a stand. Bockewitz also said pumpkin carving will return and people will be able to pick up their pumpkins soon. The carved pumpkins will be displayed at the event, and more information is expected to be released. More information can be found on the event Facebook page.
The festival is sponsored by Frank Pumpkin Farm, Coco’s, Cerno’s, Peoples National Bank, State Bank of Toulon, Farmers Insurance-Amber Patch-Troxell, Edward Jones-Mike Miler, Blissful Branch Boutique, CSB, the Kewanee Mayor and his wife, Gary and Jeanna Moore, Reiman’s Harley-Davidson, and the Kewanee Rotary.
