By Sean P. Ray | Managing Editor
DEUTSCHTOWN – Organizers of the first Pumpkinfest set up under a new committee have deemed the event a success.
The 31st Pumpkinfest was held on Oct. 11, providing games, shows and, of course, free pumpkins to a crowd of kids at Allegheny Commons. The event was organized by a committee of different groups — specifically East Allegheny Community Council, The Northside | North Shore Chamber of Commerce, The Northside Leadership Conference, The Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy and Allegheny Center Alliance Church — which was formed to help Pumpkinfest continue after the semi-retirement of the event’s co-founder, Barbara Burns, last year.
Burns, who still stayed on to help with organization as a representative from East Allegheny Community Council, founded Pumpkinfest in 1991 alongside Carole Annis, and headed the organization of every iteration of the event through 2024.
“I think they did a wonderful job,” Burns said of the organization committee’s work.
While Burns said there were a few hiccups — mentioning an inflatable slide being initially placed too close to a tree as an example — she was overall happy with the result, and held a debrief after the event’s conclusion to give pointers.
To help out with organization decision making, the committee hired a project manager. Point Park University graduate Ryan Dawson filled the role, and felt helping put the festival together was a positive experience.
“The community really came out when it comes to doing events for the children and citizens of the Northside,” he said.
In terms of challenges, Dawson felt coordinating all of the volunteers to be the biggest hurdle he faced. Further, he said a “to-do list” Burns was putting together still was not quite finished yet. Burns has previously told The Chronicle that after three decades of experience, organizing Pumpkinfest has come so naturally to her that she never made any kind of checklist or formal organization document.
Dawson said he hopes to be able to return next year to help with the 32nd Pumpkinfest.
Time will tell on what the next Pumpkinfest will bring. But for the time being, Burns feels confident that Pumpkinfest has been preserved for future generations.
“I am happy,” she said. “To me, this is really about the longevity of the event and the families it serves.”
Pumpkinfest is traditionally held on the second Saturday of October, with a rain date of the following Sunday. Assuming this holds true, the 2026 Pumpkinfest will take place Oct. 10.
