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2025 Morton Pumpkin Art & Craft Market Registration
9/12/2025 - 9/13/2025
9:00am-2:00pm............................ Staggered set-up
Noon-3:00pm............................... Booths inspected according to following guidelines
3:30-7:00pm................................. Market Hours (volunteers will be leaving at 6:30pm)
Overnight security is provided on the Art & Craft Market grounds on Friday.
Saturday 9/13
8:00am-5:00pm............................ Market Hours
Fees
Early bird discount $25 off total booth cost (Expires Feb 14,2025)
$190 non-members / $150 Chamber Members* per booth
*Chamber Membership: Home-based businesses/Part-time professionals may join the Morton Chamber of Commerce for a flat fee of $125/year.
Location: Birchwood Park
Registration is Full for this event
2025 Morton Pumpkin Festival Parade
9/13/2025
Morton Pumpkin Festival Parade 2025
Pumpkin Party of the Century
Saturday, September 13th, 2025 10:30 am
JOIN US FOR ONE OF THE LARGEST FESTIVAL PARADES IN THE STATE OF ILLINOIS AND HAS BEEN RUNNING FOR 59 YEARS!
THE MORTON PUMPKIN FESTIVAL PARADE IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO PROMOTE YOUR BUSINESS OR ORGANIZATION AND SHOW YOUR MORTON PRIDE!
$500 GRAND PRIZE, BEST FLOAT
$200 BEST COMMERCIAL FLOAT
$200 BEST NON-COMMERCIAL FLOAT
MORTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE MEMBERS........ $25.00*
NON-MEMBER, NON-PROFITS & CLUBS...................... $35.00*
NON-MEMBERS, ALL OTHERS....................................... $50.00*
SCHOOL MARCHING BANDS.......................................... FREE
MILITARY AND VETERAN GROUPS................................ FREE
PUMPKIN FESTIVAL EVENT ENTRIES ...........................FREE
*IF YOUR BUSINESS OR ORGANIZATION HAS MULTIPLE ENTRIES, PAY ONE FEE FOR ALL ENTRIES.
NO applications will be accepted after August 30th!
No weapons or items resembling a weapon. If you are in doubt about whether something is a weapon or resembles a weapon, please do not bring it to the parade. If you bring such items, you will be kindly asked to put the items away during the parade.
Float entries must be on a hayrack or flatbed trailer. Maximum height of floats is 13 feet, 9 inches in order to clear electrical lines.
All walkers must be 8 years old or older. Younger children can safely ride on floats or be pushed/pulled in strollers or wagons accompanied by an adult.
For safety, please make sure walkers stay a safe distance from vehicles and floats at all times.
Entries must keep their unit moving along the parade route and must keep a distance of no more than 30 feet between their unit and the entry in front of them.
No literature may be distributed.
No Confetti or streamers may be thrown.
Candy or toys may be distributed as follows:
Marching/walking units are limited to:
Animal units are required to have their own cleanup systems and/or crew. For the safety of all involved no horses are allowed in the Pumpkin Festival Parade.
Commercial Vehicles may enter the parade if they are:
No inflammatory, negative, or profane language, messaging or music.
No scary costumes or haunted house related entries.
No flips, back-hand-springs, or acrobatics of any kind.
No provocative clothing, displays, signage, or music.
Do not leave any personal items in Lincoln School's bathrooms at the beginning of the parade route. The schools will be locked up as soon as the parade finishes stepping off.
Parade officials reserve the right to restrict, limit, or reject (at any time including during the parade) any entry that in the sole determination of parade officials is inflammatory, controversial, and/or upsetting, or does not abide by the rules and regulations.
Parade officials will welcome and visit with parade entries and their Parade Unit On-Site Contacts during the staging of the parade in order to promote compliance with these rules and regulations. We please ask for your cooperation in making the parade enjoyable for all concerned.
2025 Libby's Pumpkin Recipe Challenge
9/3/2025
Does your recipe have what it takes to win this year’s LIBBY’S® Pumpkin Recipe Challenge?
This year’s competition features three categories: Junior (ages 10 to 17), Adult Sweet, and Adult Savory. Only one entry per person!
Recipes will be judged on taste, innovation, and presentation. Extra points are given for theme-related recipes.
1st Place in the Adult and Junior categories will receive $100 in Chamber Checks and 2nd Places will receive $35 in Chamber Checks! Winners of the Junior and Adult categories will compete for the $150 Chamber Checks Overall Grand Prize. All youth entrants will receive a participation ribbon.
Winners will be recognized Thursday, September 11 at 6:30 pm on the Entertainment Stage on Festival grounds.
Contestants should drop off their recipe and sample at Freedom Hall (349 W Birchwood) between 5:00pm and 5:30 pm on September 3, 2025 and return at 7:30 pm for announcement of winners.
Contestants should email a digital copy of their recipe to info@mortonillinois.org by September 2, 2025
Sponsored by Libby's Pumpkin.
Location: Freedom Hall
349 W Birchwood St
Morton, IL 61550
2025 Pumpkin Tennis Open
9/5/2025 - 9/6/2025
Registration divisions include:
Fees: $30 per player
Date: Friday, September 5th 5:00pm & Saturday September 6th, 2025
Deadline: Tuesday September 2, 2025
Schedule to be released to contestants Thursday September 4th.
Each player must bring a new can of tennis balls.
Location: Joal Stanfield Tennis Complex
701 E. Kay St.
Morton, IL 61550
2025 Fishing Derby
9/6/2025
Hey all you anglers! Kennel Lake is proud to host the Fishing Derby!
Sponsored by Bob Grimm Chevrolet.
Location: Kennel Lake Sportsmen's Club
22171 Kennel Lake Drive
Morton, IL 61550
2025 Pumpkin Pedal
9/6/2025
The Pumpkin Pedal is a 5-mile family bike ride touring Morton, beginning and ending at Better Banks. There will be fun and activities for bikers of all ages. A portion of the proceeds will benefit Midwest Food Bank's Tender Mercies meal packaging project.
Location: Better Banks
805 W Jackson St
Morton, IL 61550
2025 Big Wheel Race
9/9/2025
2025 Pumpkin Festival Big Wheel Race
Tuesday, September 9, 2025
Check In: Corner of Plum & Adams
Check In Time: 6:00pm
Race Time: 6:30pm
On your mark! Get Set! Go!!! The Big Wheels ride again at our annual Big Wheel Race, hosted by St. Jude Morton to Peoria Runners.
This fun event for kids ages 10 and under is always a blast. Each racer receives a prize for participating.
Bring your own big wheel or use one of the many available at the race.
Big wheels brought from home cannot have rubber tires.
Online registration will close Friday September 5th.
Onsite registration will be available.
Sponsored by Blain's Farm and Fleet
2025 Morton Pumpkin Art & Craft Market Registration9/12/2025 - 9/13/2025
Calling all Crafters, Artists, and Food Vendors!
Registration is open for the 2025 Pumpkin Art & Craft Market one of the most popular events at the Morton Pumpkin Festival. 75,000+ people are expected to visit over the course of the four-day Festival from September 10-13, 2025.
The Pumpkin Art & Craft Market will be held Friday September 12 & Saturday September 13, 2025 at Birchwood Park (311 W. Birchwood Street, Morton, IL 61550).
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Schedule
Friday 9/129:00am-2:00pm............................ Staggered set-up
Noon-3:00pm............................... Booths inspected according to following guidelines
3:30-7:00pm................................. Market Hours (volunteers will be leaving at 6:30pm)
Overnight security is provided on the Art & Craft Market grounds on Friday.
Saturday 9/13
8:00am-5:00pm............................ Market Hours
Fees
Early bird discount $25 off total booth cost (Expires Feb 14,2025)
$190 non-members / $150 Chamber Members* per booth
*Chamber Membership: Home-based businesses/Part-time professionals may join the Morton Chamber of Commerce for a flat fee of $125/year.
- All new vendors must include 5 photos of their handmade craft and include one photo showing their craft in process of being made. Photos need to be submitted at time of payment and can be emailed to info@mortonillinois.org
- Booth locations will be assigned based on the order of registration
- A confirmation email will be sent to you following completion of the online registration.
- We will be emailing additional Art & Craft Market information, and logistics (including parking and set-up/tear-down) as we get closer to Festival. Contact our office with any questions. Details will also be on the Morton Pumpkin Festival website, www.mortonpumpkinfestival.org/pumpkin-art-and-craft-market.
- All items must be either handmade in the USA by the exhibitor, or the character of the item must be substantially altered/embellished by the exhibitor. Items sold must reflect what is represented on the application and in supplemental photos. (We do not allow flea market or "home party" type merchandise to be resold by a third party). Any items not meeting the above criteria may not be displayed or sold.
- Food vendors: Only prepackaged snack items will be allowed to be sold out of your booth. We reserve the right to reject any food not considered to be a snack item or misrepresented. Please reach out to the Tazewell County Health Department at eh@tchd.net for packaging information or a food permit application.
- Because of the family nature of the Pumpkin Festival, absolutely no dogs/pets, alcoholic beverages, smoking, vaping, knives, firearms, or illegal substances will be permitted in booths. No smoking or alcohol on Pumpkin Festival grounds.
- All displays must remain entirely within the space provided. Aisle space must not be infringed upon. Storage must be covered and out of sight.
- The Morton Chamber of Commerce reserves the right to sell all items with the Pumpkin Festival logo. No vendor shall display any item with the Morton Pumpkin Festival logo or the words, "Morton Pumpkin Festival" UNLESS they have purchased the rights to the Retailers' Logo available through the Morton Chamber of Commerce.
- We reserve the right to reject any work considered to be of inferior quality, misrepresented or undesirable and to shut down your booth if you do not meet our requirements.
- Vendors may not share booth space with other vendors.
- We recommend that you bring "helping hands" to help work your booth. In situations where that is not an option, vendors planning to be alone at their booth should notify the volunteers as soon as they arrive.
- Any exhibitor unwilling to comply with the guidelines will be asked to leave the Art & Craft Market without a refund and forfeit participation in future events.
- Crafter parking is located at the Morton Park District Indoor Recreation Facility, 324 S Detroit, Morton. We will have a shuttle available.
Location: Birchwood Park
Registration is Full for this event
2025 Morton Pumpkin Festival Parade9/13/2025
Morton Pumpkin Festival Parade 2025
Pumpkin Party of the Century
Saturday, September 13th, 2025 10:30 am
JOIN US FOR ONE OF THE LARGEST FESTIVAL PARADES IN THE STATE OF ILLINOIS AND HAS BEEN RUNNING FOR 59 YEARS!
THE MORTON PUMPKIN FESTIVAL PARADE IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO PROMOTE YOUR BUSINESS OR ORGANIZATION AND SHOW YOUR MORTON PRIDE!
$500 GRAND PRIZE, BEST FLOAT
$200 BEST COMMERCIAL FLOAT
MORTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE MEMBERS........ $25.00*
NON-MEMBER, NON-PROFITS & CLUBS...................... $35.00*
NON-MEMBERS, ALL OTHERS....................................... $50.00*
SCHOOL MARCHING BANDS.......................................... FREE
MILITARY AND VETERAN GROUPS................................ FREE
PUMPKIN FESTIVAL EVENT ENTRIES ...........................FREE
*IF YOUR BUSINESS OR ORGANIZATION HAS MULTIPLE ENTRIES, PAY ONE FEE FOR ALL ENTRIES.
NO applications will be accepted after August 30th!
Parade Rules and Regulations
Parade entries must be decorated to the 2025 Festival theme- "Pumpkin Party of the Century"No weapons or items resembling a weapon. If you are in doubt about whether something is a weapon or resembles a weapon, please do not bring it to the parade. If you bring such items, you will be kindly asked to put the items away during the parade.
Float entries must be on a hayrack or flatbed trailer. Maximum height of floats is 13 feet, 9 inches in order to clear electrical lines.
All walkers must be 8 years old or older. Younger children can safely ride on floats or be pushed/pulled in strollers or wagons accompanied by an adult.
For safety, please make sure walkers stay a safe distance from vehicles and floats at all times.
Entries must keep their unit moving along the parade route and must keep a distance of no more than 30 feet between their unit and the entry in front of them.
No literature may be distributed.
No Confetti or streamers may be thrown.
Candy or toys may be distributed as follows:
- No candy or toys can be thrown from a float, car, truck or tractor.
- Candy or toys may be thrown into the crowd by people walking alongside an entry.
- Walkers must be a minimum of 5' away from an entry when throwing candy or toys.
- Entries should not stop along the route for candy/toy throwers to refill their containers.
Marching/walking units are limited to:
- Morton Boy Scout or Girl Scout Club
- Marching Band
- Flag or Rifle Corp
- Military/Veteran's organization
- Politicians, as noted by rules regarding political entries
- Mascots and kid-friendly characters
Animal units are required to have their own cleanup systems and/or crew. For the safety of all involved no horses are allowed in the Pumpkin Festival Parade.
Commercial Vehicles may enter the parade if they are:
- Pulling a float decorated to festival theme.
- Being used by a non-profit Morton organization and are decorated to festival theme.
- Being used by approved dignitary.
No inflammatory, negative, or profane language, messaging or music.
No scary costumes or haunted house related entries.
No flips, back-hand-springs, or acrobatics of any kind.
No provocative clothing, displays, signage, or music.
Do not leave any personal items in Lincoln School's bathrooms at the beginning of the parade route. The schools will be locked up as soon as the parade finishes stepping off.
Parade officials reserve the right to restrict, limit, or reject (at any time including during the parade) any entry that in the sole determination of parade officials is inflammatory, controversial, and/or upsetting, or does not abide by the rules and regulations.
Parade officials will welcome and visit with parade entries and their Parade Unit On-Site Contacts during the staging of the parade in order to promote compliance with these rules and regulations. We please ask for your cooperation in making the parade enjoyable for all concerned.
9/3/2025
Does your recipe have what it takes to win this year’s LIBBY’S® Pumpkin Recipe Challenge?
This year’s competition features three categories: Junior (ages 10 to 17), Adult Sweet, and Adult Savory. Only one entry per person!
Recipes will be judged on taste, innovation, and presentation. Extra points are given for theme-related recipes.
1st Place in the Adult and Junior categories will receive $100 in Chamber Checks and 2nd Places will receive $35 in Chamber Checks! Winners of the Junior and Adult categories will compete for the $150 Chamber Checks Overall Grand Prize. All youth entrants will receive a participation ribbon.
Winners will be recognized Thursday, September 11 at 6:30 pm on the Entertainment Stage on Festival grounds.
Contestants should drop off their recipe and sample at Freedom Hall (349 W Birchwood) between 5:00pm and 5:30 pm on September 3, 2025 and return at 7:30 pm for announcement of winners.
Contestants should email a digital copy of their recipe to info@mortonillinois.org by September 2, 2025
Only original recipes created by the contestant will be judged (no exceptions)
Rules:
- Amatuer bakers and chefs only
-
Min. 1 cup Libby’s 100% Pure Pumpkin in each entry
-
2 printed or typed recipes for each entry
-
Food can be displayed on any dish. Maximum space allowed for display is 2 square feet.
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No more than 1 dish per entry
-
Limit 1 entry per person
Entrants agree that their registration information, including but not limited to their name, address and phone number, will be shared with Nestle, the Morton Chamber of Commerce, and the Morton Pumpkin Festival in order that release documents or other forms may be forwarded to them in the hope of using their recipe on VeryBestBaking.com or other Nestle web or social media sites. This information will not be added to any Nestle marketing lists. Please note that this does not state or imply any promise that the recipe(s) will be used on any Nestle web or social media sites, but allows the Sponsor to release the information to Nestle should it be requested.
Sponsored by Libby's Pumpkin.
Location: Freedom Hall
349 W Birchwood St
Morton, IL 61550
9/5/2025 - 9/6/2025
Registration divisions include:
- Men's Singles
- Women's Singles
- Men's Doubles
- Women's Doubles
- Boy's Singles
- Boy's Doubles
- Girl's Singles
- Girl's Doubles
Fees: $30 per player
Date: Friday, September 5th 5:00pm & Saturday September 6th, 2025
Deadline: Tuesday September 2, 2025
Schedule to be released to contestants Thursday September 4th.
Each player must bring a new can of tennis balls.
Location: Joal Stanfield Tennis Complex
701 E. Kay St.
Morton, IL 61550
9/6/2025
Hey all you anglers! Kennel Lake is proud to host the Fishing Derby!
Date: Saturday September 6th, 2025
Time: 8:00am-11:00am
Where: Kennel Lake Sportsmen's Club
22171 Kennel Lake Drive Morton, Il
Competition Categories: Youth (16 and under) and Adult (17 and older)
Awards: Biggest Single Fish (by weight) and Most Fish.
Registration Fee: $15
General Rules
- Entries must register before the start time of 8:00 AM. There is NO FISHING before this time. Fishing can start when horn blows.
- No boats, bank fishing only, no standing in the water while fishing.
- Each person must keep their “catch” separate from others.
- FISH MUST BE KEPT ALIVE IN ORDER TO BE COUNTED.
- No jug fishing of any kind allowed – no minnows.
- No fishing in swim area.
- After Derby ends (11:00 AM, horn will sound off again) All fish to be counted and weighted are to be brought to the official Fishing Derby Weigh Station.
- ALL FISH ARE TO BE RELEASED AFTER THEY BEEN VERIFIED AND WEIGHED
- Judges will be coming around at various times to check and make sure rules are followed.
- 16 and under One fishing pole limit
- 17 and older 2 fishing pole limit
For additional information, please visit: https://www.mortonpumpkinfestival.org/fishing-derby/
Sponsored by Bob Grimm Chevrolet.
Location: Kennel Lake Sportsmen's Club
22171 Kennel Lake Drive
Morton, IL 61550
9/6/2025
The Pumpkin Pedal is a 5-mile family bike ride touring Morton, beginning and ending at Better Banks. There will be fun and activities for bikers of all ages. A portion of the proceeds will benefit Midwest Food Bank's Tender Mercies meal packaging project.
Date
Saturday, September 6
Check-In/Finish Place
Better Banks, 805 W Jackson Street 10:00am
Launch Time
10:30 am
Cost
$20 for ages 13 and older
$15 for ages 12 and under
Online registration closes September 5th. Onsite registration will be available.
Helmets are required for ALL riders, no exceptions!
For more information, please visit: https://www.mortonpumpkinfestival.org/pumpkin-pedal/
Hosted and Sponsored by Better Banks.
Location: Better Banks
805 W Jackson St
Morton, IL 61550
9/9/2025
2025 Pumpkin Festival Big Wheel Race
Tuesday, September 9, 2025
Check In: Corner of Plum & Adams
Check In Time: 6:00pm
Race Time: 6:30pm
On your mark! Get Set! Go!!! The Big Wheels ride again at our annual Big Wheel Race, hosted by St. Jude Morton to Peoria Runners.
This fun event for kids ages 10 and under is always a blast. Each racer receives a prize for participating.
Bring your own big wheel or use one of the many available at the race.
Big wheels brought from home cannot have rubber tires.
Online registration will close Friday September 5th.
Onsite registration will be available.
Sponsored by Blain's Farm and Fleet