Hartsburg Pumpkin Festival returns for its 34th year

By Audrey Ellis, Boone County Journal

Pat Singer (CQ), left, talks to Holly Hackman (CQ), right, during the Hartsburg Pumpkin Festival on Sunday, Oct. 12, 2025, in Hartsburg. Hackman has lived in Hartsburg for over 50 years. “I love living here,” Hackman said.

Residents from Missouri and beyond flocked to Hartsburg over the weekend for the city’s annual pumpkin festival. Volunteers estimated around 30,000 people attended the festival this year.

The Hartsburg Pumpkin Festival showcased the work of 194 vendors, featured four live musicians and afternoon magic shows.

The festival routinely brings tens of thousands of visitors to the town and is volunteer-driven, with community members coming together to direct parking and man information booths.

Jeri Cooper, who serves as vice president for the festival’s committee, said it takes the entire town to pull off a festival of this size.

“All of the residents clean up their yards,” Cooper said. “And we have to go through and make sure that the electrical for the (festival) works, and that we have water for people that need it.”

Economic boost

The Hartsburg Pumpkin Festival is a major economic boost for the town, Cooper said.

“A lot of these businesses, this is their main income,” she said. “But it’s not only about income. It’s people knowing that they’re here and seeing what they’re all about, and people come back and visit afterwards.”

Carissa Anderson, a longtime festival attendee and resident in the Ashland-Hartsburg area, said the festival has become a tradition for her and her family.

“It’s awesome to have so many people in a small area,” Anderson said. “Seeing the same vendors come back and the new vendors come in, it’s been really nice to just see all the changes, but also the things that stay the same.”