The Rochester Hills Museum at Van Hoosen Farm wants more than 1,011 carved pumpkins glowing on its stone wall Saturday, Oct. 10.
That's the record the museum set in a previous year at its Stone Wall Pumpkin Festival, now more than 25 years running. The daytime festival goes 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the farm, 1005 Van Hoosen Rd. in Rochester Hills. After dark, carved pumpkins line the property's roughly 1,000-foot stone wall and glow by candlelight from 7 to 9 p.m.
Admission is $12, or $8 for museum members. Children under 2 get in free. Each ticket includes one pumpkin, and the museum provides stencils and carving tools, though guests can also bring their own. No pre-registration is needed; tickets are sold at the door only, according to the event listing.
The event runs rain or shine.
Museum Manager Pat McKay told C&G Newspapers the festival grew out of a staff brainstorming session about celebrating the community's agricultural roots. Over the years, the carving has gotten more ambitious.
"When we started this 25 years ago, there were a lot of triangle eyes and toothy grins, and now, people bring their own stencils and carving tools, and they create magnificent pieces of art," McKay said.
Beyond carving, the daytime lineup includes pumpkin bowling, a professional carving display, make-and-take art projects, food vendors, a local high school drumline, building tours and a visit from the Rochester Hills Fire Department.
Organizers encourage evening visitors to bring a financial donation for Neighborhood House, which says it serves more than 3,000 local households a year with food, clothing and other assistance.
Festival proceeds support the museum's operating costs, field trips, educational programs and archives. Museum Program Coordinator Cathy Fitzpatrick said all the money goes back into the buildings and programs so they are preserved for the next generation.
The museum will also unveil its "Scarecrows in the City" outdoor exhibit during the festival. Local businesses and organizations built the scarecrows, which will move to downtown Rochester's Main Street for the last two weeks of October.
Guests can pick up their carved pumpkins Sunday, Oct. 11. For a full schedule, visit rochesterhills.org/museum or call (248) 656-4663.
Coming up in the Rochester area:
- Saturday, Oct. 10: Stone Wall Pumpkin Festival, 10 a.m.–4 p.m.; candlelight display, 7–9 p.m., Rochester Hills Museum at Van Hoosen Farm
- Through Oct. 31: Rochester Farmers' Market, Saturdays in downtown Rochester
- Late October: "Scarecrows in the City" exhibit on Main Street in downtown Rochester
