The Pumpkin Capital Of The World Is One Of The Most Charming Small Towns In Illinois You'll Ever Visit
By Linze Rice|Published August 02, 2023
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Linze Rice
Author
Ope! From the rural cornfields of DeKalb County, Linze is an Illinois native and true Midwestern gal who can make a mean bonfire and whip up a perfect marshmallow salad. Since 2014, her bylines and photography have appeared in the Chicago Tribune, Chicago Magazine, Chicago Sun-Times, and Block Club Chicago/DNAinfo Chicago, Only in Your State, and more. She has interviewed Dolly Parton, written about beloved diners along historic Route 66, visited the last Rainforest Cafe in the Illinois, and reviewed luxurious English manor-inspired hotels. Whether it's writing about a local gem or world-renowned establishment, Linze brings a heartwarming and historical perspective to each story, using facts, wit, and personal experience to impress upon readers the importance of culture, food, travel, and all things local. Her favorite destinations in Illinois include Starved Rock State Park, Chicago's Edgewater neighborhood, the charming small town of Sycamore, and historic Rosehill Cemetery. When she's not writing or photographing, Linze enjoys gardening, spending time with her husband and pets, cooking, baking, and grilling, and relaxing with trashy TV.
There is no shortage of amazing festivals in Illinois. Whether it’s a summer street fair or a winter jubilee, there is always a way to celebrate the season. But Illinoisians know that fall is really the star of the year — a fleeting moment in time when the leaves are gorgeous, temperatures are perfect, and there is one last chance to enjoy the outdoors before the freeze sets in. So when I discovered that Morton, Illinois is the pumpkin capital of the world and it has its own pumpkin festival, I began planning right away.
Let’s take a look at this Midwestern town’s unique claim to fame!
Just outside of Peoria is the quaint small town of Morton. From its welcoming sign, you begin to get a hint of what the town is known for...
Here, you'll find vast farmland focusing on the iconic orange crop, as well as pumpkin-themed foods, events, and outdoor recreation spaces like parks and family-run pumpkin patches.
The main reason for the pumpkin draw is the Nestle/Libby processing facility in the center of town, which processes between 85-90% of the world's canned pumpkin. Yep, that's a massive truck filled with pumpkins for canning!
The Morton Pumpkin Festival has been held for over 55 years and is a beloved local tradition. Events include a parade, a pumpkin weigh-off, a pumpkin decorating contest, a recipe challenge, a pie eating contest, a craft market, live entertainment, and much more. The town of less than 20,000 residents more than triples during the festival with over 75,000 annual attendees.
The festival takes place each September, with it falling between September 13-16 in 2023. Future dates include September 11–14 in 2024, September 10–13 in 2025, September 9–12 in 2026, and September 8–11 in 2027. So mark you calendars now!
The town's love of pumpkins doesn't end in the fall — it's a year-round source of pride. In its Memorial Plaza park, there is even a pumpkin-themed playground!
