Saturday is free pumpkin day at Sankey Park as the city hosts its annual Harvest Festival.
The event runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Children are invited to decorate pumpkins, and they’ll have lots of other activities to keep them busy, including face painting and a variety of games.
“It’s a fun festive way to give back to the community,” said Molly Laycock, building permit technician.
“Just a citywide festival,” said Angela Clegg, associate planner. “It’s just to provide the city (some) fun.”
It’ll feature a lot of free stuff, Clegg said. The Kiwanis Club is providing free hot dogs; the Chamber of Commerce, doughnuts; Dutch Bros., coffee and hot chocolate; and the city, popcorn.
Other food will be available for sale, she said.
Chafin Farms will provide carriage rides, and the pie-eating contest will return. Cascade Rye, a Willamette Valley Americana band, will play.
Sweet Home Police Department and Sweet Home Fire and Ambulance District will have vehicles and staff present.
“We’ve got a lot more volunteers this year,” Clegg said, and that will allow staff to move around the festival more.
The layout of the festival is changing based on the changes the city has made in the park during the summer, she said. The main paved parking area will be for disabled visitors parking. Vendors will be on the bridge and on the lawn off 14th Avenue, which will prohibit parking on the east side of 14th Avenue along the park.
For more information about the event, to get involved or to register as a vendor, contact the city Community and Economic Development Department at (541) 367-8113. The vendor application is available through the city’s calendar for Oct. 6 on its website, sweethomeor.gov.