Great Pumpkin Festival

When and Where

 
SAVE THE DATE
 Saturday, October 15, 2022
1:00 - 4:00 p.m. 
Gregory Park, Brainerd MN
(North/West portion of the park)

For information contact the Park Office at 218-828-2320.

Activities/events 
*Race Volunteers MN Adult and Teen Challenge

  • Pumpkin rolling races

  • Sack races 

  • Three-legged races

  • Wheelbarrow races

  • Bouncy ball races (Hippity Hoppity)

Age Divisions

  • 7 and Under
  • 8 to 12
  • 13 and Older
There will also be events where parents and guardians can participate with their children.

Center Circle (use as available)


  • Gourd Checkers 
  • Pumpkin Chalk Coloring
  • Visit Brainerd's Ping Pong Ball water races
Guess the weight of the pumpkin station, ran by local Miss Teen United States representatives. Winner will win the pumpkin!

​Master Gardeners/Brainerd Parks and Recreation Pumpkin Judging

**New 2022 -  individuals will be given a packet of pumpkin seeds at the 2022 Arbor Day event at the Arboretum to which they are given directions on how to grow a pumpkin, but also are automatically entered into the pumpkin growing competition. Pumpkins will be judged on "Weight" "Best Character" and "Best Stem". Pumpkins will be on display throughout the Great Pumpkin Festival. After votes are cast, awards will be given!

  

Booths/Vendors


 The following are some of our activities that occurred in 2021. 
  • Pumpkin Bouncy House - Party World Brainerd
  • Food Vendor: Brainerd Lakes Area Women of Today  Brats, hotdogs, chili, chilidogs, walking tacos, chips, cookies, pop, water.
  • Salvation Army: Free Hot Cocoa 
  • Ya-Sure Kombucha: Serving their locally made Kombucha, flavors: Apple Crisp, Apple, & Pumpkin Spice
  • Smude Oil: Sunflower Oil, Raw Honey, & Skin Salves
  • Northern Pacific Center : Spider Web Activity
  • Wondertrek Children's Museum : Messy Play/ Experiential Learning with Pumpkins "Sensory Exploration of Pumpkins"
  • The Painted Turtle: Face Painting & Glitter Tattoos
  • Crow Wing Energized:  Launching the Community Wide Re-Think Your Drink Campaign (free water bottle with month pledge) and Temporary Tattoos
  • Lakes and Pines Girl Scouts: Girl Scout Sign Up & Halloween/Pumpkin Craft
  • Brainerd Community Action: Pumpkin Hunt: Brainerd Community Action has hidden small wooden pumpkins throughout the park. Pick up your map and follow it to the locations where pumpkins are marked. See if you can find each pumpkin and locate the letter on the back. Once you have found all the letters try to unscramble the hidden word to solve the riddle.
  • Master Gardeners Volunteer Program's Educational Booth: Including examples of different pumpkins, a kid-friendly handout that has pumpkin fun facts, a coloring page, and Halloween stickers. And make sure to check out a worm compost tower! You’ll be able to learn about composting at home and see how worms will do all the work for you!
  • Northland Arboretum: Painted Pumpkin Rocks & The Nature Network Passport
  • Be a Pal: A fun opportunity to give to someone who might need a smile. Fall themed coloring pages to be sent to a "Pal". 
  • Lake and Pines Girl Scouts : Halloween Craft and Info Booth on what Girls Scouts is all about and how to sign up!

  

Sponsors/Volunteers

  • Baxter Wal-Mart - Monetary donation to purchase pumpkins for Old Fashion Race prizes. 
  • Boys-N-Berries Farm: donated over 300 pumpkins that will be sold as a fundraiser for BHS Choir at the event. Also donated corn stalks, straw bales, gourds for gourd checkers, and several picture opportunity displays and props. 
  • Brainerd Parks and Recreation Department 
14th Annual GFP Map