Sycamore Pumpkin Festival
Fall festival · Sycamore · Illinois
DeKalb County's courthouse lawn disappears under a Lions Club pumpkin display every October, with a midway carnival running Friday through Sunday and a parade closing out the weekend. It is a not-for-profit community event, run by volunteers, in a town square built for it.
Don’t miss
Plan your visit
Wed-Sun; carnival Fri-Sun, parade Sunday at 1pm
Dates from the official announcement, checked August 20, 2026. Always confirm before you go.
Color nearby peaks: October 14–October 18
Color builds from October 8 · mostly bare by November 6
Sampled at Sycamore Pumpkin Festival’s own coordinates and elevation (265 m) rather than a regional average.
Illinois is sampled at 27 weather points, then moved 2 days later so the model agrees with 1 published peak date from smokymountains.com and almanac.com. Illinois is running 7 days earlier than its own average this year. How the forecast works
When to go to Sycamore Pumpkin Festival
You get about 17 days of color here, from the first turn through to roughly October 25. That is about 7 days earlier than Illinois as a whole.
Figure about 55 mi from Chicago.
Sycamore Pumpkin Festival on the map
Drag the date slider to see when color reaches this corner of Illinois, or tap a pin for that stop’s own peak window.
More things to do in Illinois
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Frequently asked
- When is Sycamore Pumpkin Festival open in 2026?
- The 2026 season runs Oct 21 – Oct 25. Wed-Sun; carnival Fri-Sun, parade Sunday at 1pm. Dates can shift, so check the official site before you go.
- When does Sycamore Pumpkin Festival peak in 2026?
- Peak color is predicted for October 14–October 18 (best estimate October 16). Color starts around October 8 and is mostly bare by November 6.
- How do I get to Sycamore Pumpkin Festival?
- Sycamore Pumpkin Festival is in Sycamore. The closest city is Chicago, about 55 mi away. It's part of Illinois's fall lineup.
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