CORTLAND, NY (CortacaToday) — In the twenty-seventh year that Cortland is hosting their Great Cortland Pumpkin Fest, here’s what you should know about it.

What started as a harvest celebration morphed into a celebration of fall as well as harvest season as the years went on according to Savannah Hempstead, a clerk for the Cortland County Legislature.

“We usually have more than fifty craft vendors at the event, and a lot of people come just for that, to look around at what’s offered from the craft show. There’s rides, food vendors, a Pumpkin Pub next to the stage with live music, a costume contest, pumpkin decorating contest… there’s something for everybody to do.”

There is also a Pumpkin Run at this year’s Pumpkin Fest, with the kickoff starting at 9 a.m. Registration information can be found here. The pumpkin decorating contest requires no registration, only the completion of an entry form when turning in your creation to the pumpkin decorating haybales.

The event has a long list of sponsors that make it happen, including Guthrie, Suit-Kobe, Visions Federal Credit Union, and Experience Cortland just to name a few. The full list can be found here on the sponsors page from the Great Cortland Pumpkin Fest website.

“This wouldn’t be possible without our sponsors, so we’re always very grateful for them. There’s a long list of them and they all help us to be able to create a fun community event for any and everyone to be a part of.”

If you want to be more involved in the behind the scenes, there is a volunteer sign up for the event that can be found here, as well as the option to join the Great Cortland Pumpkin Fest Committee here.