The Half Moon Bay Fall Festival You Don't Want to Miss

The 51st annual Half Moon Bay Art & Pumpkin Festival is coming up, and you won’t want to miss it. Thousands of visitors are expected to descend on the World Pumpkin Capital (yes, that’s Half Moon Bay) from Saturday, October 14, to Sunday, October 15, for a weekend full of contests, entertainment, locally crafted artisanal goods, and an endless amount of pumpkin-themed foods to kick the fall season into high gear. 

While you’re there, make sure to check out the largest pumpkin sculpture in the world; crafted out of steel, cement, and ceramic tile, this giant gourd weighs 5 tons and measures 12 feet long and 11 feet high. And don’t skip out on the pumpkin-carving station, pumpkin-themed food booths, pumpkin artworks, costume contest, “Made On The Coast” pop-up featuring local goods, or the pumpkin-spice churros that might just remind you of Disneyland. 

Everything You Need to Know About the Half Moon Bay Pumpkin Festival 

When

The 2023 Half Moon Bay Art & Pumpkin Festival takes place on from Oct. 14 to 15 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Get there early to attend the annual pancake breakfast, which features all-you-can-eat buttermilk and pumpkin pancakes from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. 

Where

The festivities take over Half Moon Bay’s historic Main Street, between Mill Street and Monte Vista Lane.

Tickets

Admission to the Half Moon Bay Pumpkin Festival is free, but tickets for the pancake breakfasts can be purchased here. 

Getting There

Half Moon Bay is located about 30 miles south of San Francisco’s Mission District and about 50 miles north of Santa Cruz. The Pacific Coast Highway is accessible from both directions and provides the most scenic drive to Half Moon Bay. Along the way, you can check out the popular surfing destinations in the Bay Area and across the Central Coast, but plan to head out early in the day so you can snag a parking spot. 

Half Moon Bay Pumpkin Fest Schedule 

Saturday, October 14

7:00 a.m.

Pancake Breakfast in the Half Moon Bay City Hall parking lot, located at the intersection of Main Street and Kelly Avenue

9:00 a.m. 

The Pumpkin Festival opens

10:00 a.m. 

Costume contest at the Half Moon Bay Library, located at the intersection of Church Street and Correas Street

12:00 p.m. 

The Great Pumpkin Parade

2:00 p.m.

Youth Pie-Eating Contest (for ages 11 and under) at the Bank of America lot

2:15 p.m. 

Pie-Eating Contest (for ages 12 and up) at the Bank of America lot

5:00 p.m.

Festival closes for the evening

Sunday, October 15

7:00 a.m.

Pancake Breakfast in the City Hall parking lot

The Half Moon Bay Pumpkin Run half marathon begins at Hatch Elementary School, located at the intersection of Kelly Avenue and Highway 1

8:00 a.m.

The Kids’ Fun Run (for ages 11 and under) begins at Hatch Elementary

8:15 a.m. 

The Half Moon Bay Pumpkin Run 10K begins at Hatch Elementary

8:20 a.m.

The Half Moon Bay Pumpkin Run 5K begins at Hatch Elementary

9:00 a.m.

The Pumpkin Festival opens

10:00 a.m. 

Pumpkin-carving station opens in the Bank of America lot

1:00 p.m. 

Pumpkin-carving station closes

2:00 p.m.

Youth Pie-Eating Contest (for ages 11 and under) at the Bank of America lot

2:15 p.m. 

Pie-Eating Contest (for ages 12 and up) at the Bank of America lot

5:00 p.m.

Festival closes for the evening.