By Sean P. Ray | Managing Editor

DEUTSCHTOWN — Oct. 12 was a day to celebrate as Northside’s Pumpkinfest reached its 30th iteration, a major milestone.

It was also, however, the last Pumpkinfest with Barbara Burns, who co-founded the festival, as the lead organizer.

“I’ve been saying for three years I’m retiring,” Burns told The Chronicle. “Now they’re finally starting to catch on.”

Burns will not fully be leaving behind the beloved family festival. She said she’s happy to continue helping the East Allegheny Community Council in organizing the event, but not as the lead chair anymore.

Pumpkinfest got its start in 1991 with Burns and Carole Annis. The two women were both school directors with Pittsburgh Public Schools at the time and had been interested in organizing a children’s festival for October. Together they created two festivals, with Burns leading Deutschtown Pumpkinfest and Annis organizing its sister event, Brightwood Pumpkinfest.

The two festivals would later merge into a singular Northside Pumpkinfest and has continued since, though not without challenges. Like many events, Pumpkinfest took a hiatus during the COVID-19 pandemic, with the festival not occurring in 2020, 2021 and 2022.

The festival offers various rides, activities and games for kids and their families. Whether it’s the petting zoo, horse carriage rides, Diaper Derby races or bounce houses, there’s plenty of fun to be found.

Kids hunt for the perfect pumpkin at the 2024 Pumpkinfest. Photos by Sean P. Ray

Of course Pumpkinfest wouldn’t be Pumpkinfest without, well, pumpkins. All kids get a free pumpkin, offered by Giant Eagle, and a pumpkin decorating contest is one of the premiere activities during the festival.

Having led the event for so long, some may expect Burns would be over pumpkins by now. But the opposite is true. Her favorite part of the festival is watching kids wander the pumpkin patch, carefully choosing the best gourd possible.

“I’ve seen some stay in there for a long time,” she said.

Burns has felt the years, however. She said she’s met people who remember coming to the first Pumpkinfests as kids who now bring their own children or grandchildren to attend. She’s happy to pass off the proverbial keys to the event to a new generation.

In fact, she’s honored to do so.

“To me, that’s the greatest compliment,” she said. “For a body of work that I’ve personally invested in, they care enough to (continue it).”

Pumpkinfest is held every October on the second Saturday of the month, with a rain date of the following Sunday.