By Sean P. Ray | Managing Editor

On Oct. 12, 2019, the 28th Annual Northside Pumpkinfest took place at Allegheny Commons Park, the same as it ever had for the past nearly 30 years. It had rides, a petting zoo, puppet shows and more, all the things people had come to expect from the traditional Halloween event on the Northside.

Few knew at the time that it would be the last Pumpkinfest for quite a while.

As the COVID-19 pandemic still ravaged the world, Pumpkinfest became one of the many events canceled due to the disease. The years passed by — 2020, 2021 and 2022 — with no sign of the much beloved Pumpkinfest.

Now, in perhaps an appropriate metaphor for the Halloween season, Pumpkinfest is ready to rise from its proverbial grave and is poised to make a comeback this October.

Northside Pumpkinfest will return to Allegheny Commons Park this month — Oct. 14, to be exact — for its much delayed 29th year. For Barbara Burns, co-founder and head organizer of the festival, it’s been an unexpected but welcome turn of events.

“Well, I wasn’t sure if it was coming back,” Burns told The Chronicle.

Check out the October issue of The Northside Chronicle for the full story.