Welcome to the 40th Annual Bessemer Pumpkin Festival.  

The Bessemer Pumpkinfest Committee is proud to sponsor this year's event where you'll find activities for the entire family.

Festivities begin Wednesday evening, September 26, with the kick-off at  the Pit Stop Bar & Grill. This event is co-sponsored by the First National Bank of Bessemer, The Leather & Gift Shop, & Pit Stop Bar & Grill. Wednesday is also the start of Pumpkin geo-caching. Rules & locations can be found here.

Through the generosity of local businesses and 50/50 sales, we are once again able to provide FREE CARNIVAL RIDES beginning Friday from 5:00 - 9:00 p.m. and Saturday from 10:30 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Food & games are for all ages will be available.

If you're looking for some adventure, take the short drive to Copper Peak and enjoy their Adventure Ride. They will be open from 10 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. all weekend.

New this year is the Zombie Crawl which replaced the Poker Run.  Sign up at the Pit Stop or call Ann at 906.364.1025.

On Saturday,  begin your day with a hearty Pumpkin Pancake Breakfast at the St. Sebastian School (regular pancakes are available too). The St. Sebastian Knights of Columbus fire up the griddle from 8 - 11 a.m.

After breakfast, the entire family can spend the day downtown with special activities for kids (and adults who want to act like kids). Vendor and food booths will be all along Sophie Street from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. with entertainment throughout the day.

The Bessemer Historical Society will be open from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Saturday. Stop by and see the many displays depicting Bessemer's history and heritage

Sophie Street activities include a costume kiddies parade, carnival, ventriloquist Dave Parker and Skippy performances, balloon characters and face painting by Happy Dayz the Clown & Twinklz, pumpkin bowling, pony rides and petting zoo, and a number of contests. Please see the Contests page for more information.

Pumpkinfest T-shirts can be purchased at our information booth and BP gas station.

Our craft fair will be held at the A.D. Johnston High School gym from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The gym will be filled with crafters showing their wares. The junior high class will once again be selling all kinds of delicious goodies in the concession stand.

For the classic car and tractor enthusiasts, the Klassic Kruisers Car Club will have many of their classic and antique cars on display.   Also, the will display their antique tractors in the BP parking lot. A tractor pull is scheduled for noon.

The Pie Social will be held in the City Hall Auditorium. The ever popular Gogebic Range Band will play from 1 - 2 p.m. So after all that walking and shopping, stop by for some great deserts, conversation, and music. Pumpkin Bingo will take place in the DDA office at City Hall at 12:30.

At 3:00 p.m., Dairy Queen is hosting a treasure hunt for the kids.

At the same time, TBD will be performing on the Sophie Street stage until 5:00 p.m.

And to end the day, the kids will be "dancin in the streets," at least on Sophie Street, from 7 - 10 p.m. with music provided by a local DJ.

This year's Pumpkinfest closes out Sunday evening, September 30, with a Roast Beef & Pulled-Pork dinner at the Bessemer VFW, from 4 - 7 p.m. Tickets can be purchased at the door. The dinner is open to the public and takeout is available. A silent auction will be held throughout the dinner.

At 6:00 p.m., we will draw the 50/50 raffle, silent auction, and geocaching winners will be announced.

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