Keene Pumpkin Festival Returns Saturday With New Downtown Layout

The entertainment schedule has been expanded to three stages, giving festivalgoers more opportunities to hear live music and see performances while walking the event.

Downtown Keene will fill with carved pumpkins, live performances and Halloween activities on Saturday, Oct. 17, as the Keene Pumpkin Festival returns with adjustments tied to the city’s ongoing reconstruction work.

The event runs from noon to 7 p.m. and will spread across Central Square, Main Street, Railroad Square and Gilbo Avenue. Organizers have shifted some familiar attractions to different spots this year, including the festival’s giant pumpkin display, which is moving from Central Square to Railroad Square while construction continues.

Mike Giacomo, president of Let It Shine, said the oversized jack-o’-lantern on the tower is expected to weigh about 700 pounds. Railroad Square will also be the site of free pumpkin carving starting at 2 p.m., led by Elm City Rotary with support from C&S Wholesale Grocers. Organizers said some of the finished pumpkins may be placed on the tower.

Main Street will again be lined with thousands of pumpkins carved by local schoolchildren, and a school-by-school display map is posted on the Keene Pumpkin Festival Facebook page. Central Square will still be active, with vendors, children’s activities and a mix of free and paid crafts.

Families will have several scheduled activities throughout the afternoon. The children’s costume parade begins gathering at 2 p.m. at Main and West streets before moving through downtown with A Company of Witches leading the way. From 3 to 5 p.m., 32 businesses will take part in trick-or-treating, offering candy as well as allergy-friendly and non-candy options. Blue pumpkins will identify locations with alternative treats, and a business map is available on the festival’s Facebook page.

A new scavenger hunt has also been added to encourage visitors to explore downtown and stop at local shops. The entertainment schedule has been expanded to three stages, giving festivalgoers more opportunities to hear live music and see performances while walking the event.

At the South Stage near The Colonial Theatre, the lineup starts at 2:15 p.m. with the Monadnock Mavericks, followed by Inhail at 3:30 p.m., the Sonntag Jazz Collective at 4:15 p.m. and A Company of Witches at 5 p.m. The Gilbo Avenue Stage begins at 2:15 p.m. with MoCo Arts, then continues with A Company of Witches at 3 p.m., NHDI at 3:45 p.m., Keene State College Dance at 4:30 p.m. and Kathryn Scarpetti at 5:15 p.m. The Main Stage, on the north end of Main Street near Roxbury Street, features Cheshire Moon at 2:15 p.m., Saguaro at 3:45 p.m. and Modern Fools at 5:15 p.m.

Festival merchandise will also be available for visitors who want a keepsake. Kringle Candle has produced seasonal scents tied to the event, including Sugar Shack, Autumn Stroll on Main and Pumpkin Fest Blend, and the company also provides the candles used in the Main Street jack-o’-lantern displays. Those items can be purchased at the Pumpkin Festival Headquarters booth and through the online store. Douglas Cuddle Toys is selling plush toys with Pumpkin Festival bandanas, along with clothing and stickers.

Because of downtown construction, organizers are asking attendees to plan ahead and expect a different route than in previous years. Parking is available at Optical Avenue and in the downtown lots on Gilbo Avenue and Commercial Street. A free shuttle will run between Optical Avenue and downtown every 15 to 20 minutes during the festival.

The event area will be closed to vehicle traffic, and visitors are being urged to allow extra time for parking and walking, follow detours and check current updates before arriving. Dogs are not allowed under the city ordinance that applies to downtown events.

Updates, maps and additional details are available on the Keene Pumpkin Festival 2026 Facebook page.