Pumpkin Fest returns to St. Joe museum

The 17th annual Pumpkin Fest, a family-friendly festival sponsored by the Pony Express National Museum at 9th and Penn streets in St. Joseph, will open at 5 p.m. Friday, Oct. 12, and run through 5 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 14.

The highlight of the three-day celebration will take place at 8 p.m. on Friday when more than 800 hundred hand-carved pumpkins will be electrically lit on "Pumpkin Mountain" in front of the museum.

Concessions will be available in Patee Park across the street from the museum, as will pony rides, a petting zoo, children's games, crafts and carnival attractions.

Entertainment will include main stage and gazebo acts along with roaming performers such as John the Balloon Man and "Mr. Wizard."

The band X-STATIC will perform 6:30-8 p.m. Friday, and the Phil Vandel Band will headline during the same time slot Saturday night. On Sunday, MandaLynn and the Rocking Country Variety Show will perform at 1 p.m.

Professor Farquar will be appearing throughout the weekend as Abraham Lincoln.

On Saturday at 1 p.m., during a storytelling session by Will Stuck, children's storytelling books will be given out by the St. Joseph Public Library and the museum.

Also on Saturday, beginning at 11 a.m., will be a costume parade with awards for best costumes. Registration for the parade begins at 10 a.m. at Ninth and Olive in the Patee Hall parking lot.