HALF MOON BAY, CALIF. -- Half Moon Bay biggest and best known event of the year is also known throughout the San Francisco Bay Area and California. Art & Pumpkin Festival is a celebration of pumpkins, music, community and art.

The event is held one weekend before Halloween, and usually includes a big pumpkin weigh off. In a recent contest a California-grown 1,535-pound Atlantic Giant pumpkin.

Events include: Music Stages, Family Stage, "Smashing Pumpkins: Battle of the Bands", Harvest-Inspired Crafts,  Home-style Food, Delicious Drink Organic, Healthy & Green, Half Moon Bay Winery, Mavericks Pumpkin, Farmer Mike  Carving Expert, Zero Waste Effort and many sponsors. 

Activities & Attractions: The Halloween Photo Booth and Activities, Pie Eating Contests, Haunted Barn, Giant Pumpkin Photos, Costume Contest, Coloring Contest, Pumpkin Patches, Fine Art, Harvest-Inspired Crafts,  and arts and crafts.

Shopping: Great shopping opportunities for buyers and browsers can meet 250 exceptional artists and craft-makers showcasing  sculpture, paintings, photography, glass, ceramics, textiles, jewelry, leather, wood, metal and mixed media. The art aspect of the annual festival is considered among the top art shows in the country.

Original Art: Hand-blown glass pumpkins, beautiful vases, flatware, clocks, dishes, wall and table decorations, paperweights, stained and beveled glass, etchings, sculptures, photography, oil and watercolor paintings, beadwork, gold and silver jewelry, vests, handbags, hats, wallets, footwear, wind chimes, and waterfalls will be among the thousands of items one-of-a-kind items available.

Pumpkin Artist: Among the highlights of the annual event is a talented man, Farmer Mike, who has been called  the "Picasso of Pumpkin Carvers". He has carved pumpkins for over 25 years wearing the hat of "Pumpkin Festival Carving Expert". 

Pancake Breakfast:

Plain or pumpkin pancakes, gobs of butter and maple syrup, grilled sausage links, fresh orange juice, and plenty of coffee. Saturday and Sunday morning from 7 to 11 a.m. in Mac Dutra Park, Main Street at Kelly Avenue.

Costume Contest

Creative Halloween attire in the Costume Contest, a popular time-honored festival tradition before walking in the big parade, can win awards for the cleverest costume dressers. It is open to all ages with individual and group divisions. Saturday, 10 a.m. in the Half Moon Bay Library parking lot, at Church and Correas Streets.

The Great Pumpkin Parade

It's the ultimate old-fashioned, home-spun parade featuring the mighty weigh-off champion pumpkin and grower, followed by marching bands, classic cars, floats, and a charming assortment of costumed ghouls, gargoyles, ghosts and assorted surprises.  Saturday, 12 noon on Main Street.

Pie-Eating Contests

This hilarious contest at Bank of America, 620 Main Street, provides a spectacle as they eat 9" pumpkin pies heaped high with whipped cream. Contests are held Saturday and Sunday with two age categories -- children age 11 and under, and over at 2:15 p.m.

Pumpkin Carving

Non-competitive Pumpkin Carving will be available on Sunday in the Family Fun Zone at Bank of America, 620 Main Street. It is not a contest, there's no judging or awards … it's simply for fun. Pumpkins and carving knives are provided. Create your very own masterpiece anytime between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.

Pumpkin Run/Walk

The Pumpkin Run is held on Sunday starting morning (usually around 8 a.m.)  at Hatch School on Kelly Avenue, just west of Highway 1. The run follows the picturesque Coastside Trail and features a 5 & 10k Run, 5k Walk and Kids Fun Run to benefit Senior Coastsiders. Info-line: 650-712-7322.