Fall Fun with Pumpkinfest

For more than 30 years, Pumpkinfest, a Children’s Harvest Festival, on the North Side has been a tradition for families celebrating fall. 

“The Pumpkinfest is a volunteer effort that has grown into a regional celebration for small children and their families,” says Barbara Burns, the owner of Sweet Time Café & General Store on East Ohio Street.

But there was a time when the popular event almost didn’t happen. 

Barbara, who has been organizing Pumpkinfest for three decades, says she worried she would have to shutter the event for good in the midst of the pandemic.  

“There were a lot of changes in organizations and difficult fiscal times,” she says. 

Instead, friends and supporters, including Bistro to Go owner Nikki Heckman, whose business is located just down the street from Sweet Time Cafe, stepped up to make sure the event could continue on. 

“I first met Nikki when she worked at Allegheny Center Alliance Church and was my contact for the church’s outreach to the event,” Barbara adds. “Since starting the Bistro to Go restaurant, she has been a great supporter of all our community’s efforts and many other nonprofits.”

Barbara says her way of thanking festival attendees is to make sure they have delicious food from Bistro to Go to eat at the event, which also includes a health and wellness fair to help families make positive, healthy life choices. This year’s Pumpkinfest, which was held on Oct. 11, also included a petting zoo, games, educational activities, live music, food and, of course, pumpkin decorating.