The countdown is officially on! The 39th Annual Cordell Pumpkin Festival will take over downtown Cordell on Saturday, October 10, bringing a full day of family fun, shopping, food, entertainment and hometown traditions to the historic square.
The festival will run from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., with activities and vendors spread throughout the downtown area.
This year’s festival will feature nearly 100 vendors, offering everything from handmade crafts and crochet to spices, food, drinks, pumpkins and plenty of unique finds. Visitors are encouraged to come hungry, shop local and spend the day enjoying everything Cordell has to offer.
The morning will get started with the annual Pumpkin Festival Pancake Breakfast at 4th & College Church from 7–9 a.m. Adults are $15 and children 10 and under are $10, with proceeds benefiting the church.
At 9 a.m., the festival will officially get underway with the presentation of a special Pumpkin Festival Proclamation by Cordell Mayor Phil Kliewer and the Cordell City Council, declaring the second Saturday in October as Pumpkin Festival Day in Cordell.
The festival parade will begin at 10 a.m., with lineup beginning at 9 a.m. at North Temple and Main Street near the OSU Extension office. The parade is free to participate in, and organizers are still encouraging local businesses, organizations, churches, fire departments and community groups to join the fun.
Live entertainment will take place on the east side of the courthouse stage from 11 a.m. to 2:15 p.m., featuring McKedy Band and Cecil Gray’s Native Blues..
Festival-goers will also have plenty of activities to explore throughout the day, including kids zones, the pumpkin baking contest, car show, car audio contest, Burnout contest, vendors and the ever-popular Pumpkin Festival Jail.
The Pumpkin Festival Jail will be operated by the Cordell Chamber of Commerce from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Chamber booth on the east side of the square. For just $5, festival-goers can have a friend, family member or unsuspecting volunteer “arrested” and placed in the jail for five minutes— or pay $5 to make an early escape. The family-friendly fundraiser is all in good fun, with proceeds helping the Chamber prepare for next year’s 40th Annual Pumpkin Festival.
Car enthusiasts will have several opportunities to enjoy the day as well. The annual car show will feature all makes and models, with registration from 7–10 a.m. at the City Community Center, 101 E. Main Street, behind City Hall. Preregistration is $25 and day-of registration is $30, with awards presented at 2 p.m.
The Car Audio Contest will have registration at 10 a.m. with competition beginning at 11 a.m. at the old High Plains parking lot at the corner of 1st and College Street. Entry is $20 per category. The Burnout contest will take place at 3 p.m. near North Temple by the OSU Extension office. Registration runs from 7–10 a.m. at the City Community Center. Participants must provide proof of insurance.
Bakers are also invited to show off their skills in the Pumpkin Festival Baking Contest. Registration begins at 8 a.m. at Calories Well Spent, 114 E. Main Street on the south side of the square, with judging at 9 a.m. The contest is free to enter, but entries must contain pumpkin and a recipe must be provided. Categories include pies, cakes, cookies, candies and breads, with awards following the parade.
And for those looking for a little evening entertainment, the Washita Theater will close out the festival day with a showing of The Nightmare Before Christmas. Doors open at 6 p.m. and the movie begins at 7 p.m. Admission is only $2 per person, and the theater will offer a special small popcorn and drink combination for $5. The Cordell Pumpkin Festival has long been a fall tradition for the community, bringing residents and visitors together for a day centered around local businesses, community organizations, vendors, food, entertainment and good old-fashioned small-town fun. The event continues to draw visitors from throughout the region each year.
Organizers encourage everyone to mark their calendars, invite their friends and family, and make plans to spend Saturday, October 10, in downtown Cordell.
Admission to the festival is free.
For more information about the 39th Annual Cordell Pumpkin Festival, follow the Cordell Chamber of Commerce on Facebook or contact the Chamber at cordellokevents@ gmail.com.
Come celebrate fall, support local businesses and enjoy a little Pumpkin Festival magic in Cordell!