Hartsburg community prepares to host nearly 30,000 visitors for 34th annual Pumpkin Festival

The Hartsburg township is a small, close-knit community of about 138 people along the historic Katy Trail. Since 1991, tens of thousands of locals and tourists from across the Midwest— and sometimes even farther — have flocked to “Missouri’s Pumpkin Patch” each October for the Hartsburg Pumpkin Festival.

Festivalgoers have braved traffic to descend hilly two-lane roads lined with fiery foliage to reach the festivities for 34 years, rain or shine.

From cinnamon nuts to turkey legs, goat milk candles to hanging signs, gospel music to acoustic folk songs, the Hartsburg Pumpkin Festival is a mid-Missouri staple loved by tens of thousands of fall enthusiasts.

This year’s festival is from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. The festival committee currently anticipates nearly 30,000 attendees each day, eager to buy fall produce, support local artisans, enjoy live music, eat delicious food and connect with one another.

The Hackman Farm is the main supplier of the festival’s crown jewel: the pumpkins. The farm dedicates 20 acres of land to growing tens of thousands of gourds annually.

“The rich Missouri River bottom soil produces unique and bountiful harvests of grains, grasses, fruits, and vegetables,” according to the festival website. Local vendors started the festival so producers could “share (its) wealth with mid-Missouri.”

The farm’s owner, Jo Hackman, 81, said she was invited, along with other local merchants, to the first meeting in 1990 that led to the festival’s invention.

“That’s how it really got started,” she said. “We just kind of all put our heads together. A fellow that lived down here said Hartsburg would be a perfect place to have a pumpkin festival, and it was his big idea that got it started.”

The festival has grown exponentially since its 1991 conception, featuring a handful of vendors and curious attendees. This year, 194 vendors will set up shop in Hartsburg to sell a host of unique goods, homemade crafts, produce, food, jewelry, decor and more.

Hackman plants the seeds no later than June, and the harvest begins in September, right after Labor Day.

“We’re still picking here,” she said on Oct. 5. “We’ll have plenty of pumpkins.”

The festival begins with the crowning of the Pumpkin King and Queen. This year’s royalty recipients are Barb and Marvin Hilgedick, who have lived in Hartsburg since 1980. They are the first couple to receive the title simultaneously.

Although the Hilgedicks said they were surprised when they heard the news, it didn’t seem to shock anyone.

“Marvin and Barb set a high standard of how everyone should live their lives,” Vickie Gares said.

Several comments under the Facebook post announcing the royal winners said the title was “well-deserved” for all the work the Hilgedicks have done for the community, with one commenter calling them “one of (her) favorite power couples.”

“There’s not an activity in the community you don’t see them working at,” Bonita Lenger said.

The couple has been actively involved with the American Legion, the Peace United Church of Christ and Planned Progress for nearly 50 years.

“They are such kind-hearted people who care deeply about their community and will do anything for their friends and neighbors,” Sarah Reid said.

“They are the definition of good, loyal people,” she added.

Following the crowning of the Pumpkin King and Queen at 9 a.m. Saturday, the parade, organized by the American Legion, will start to snake its way through the town.

Saturday’s entertainment includes local artist Cole Marren, a magic show from Gerry Tritz and the Offroad Cadillac Band.

Sunday’s festivities will begin with a church service at 9 a.m., provided in partnership by Hartsburg Baptist Church and Peace United Church of Christ. Pastor Michael Tatum will lead a “gospel jam” following the service, and local artist Al Jolly will play from 12:45 p.m. until the festival’s close.

Parking is $5 per car, and drivers will be directed to designated parking areas in the fields. The festival will provide shuttles to take attendees to and from the festival grounds, but reminds attendees to come prepared to walk.

This will be the third year the festival has offered a continuous shuttle from Ashland that will pick up from the Southern Boone Primary and Elementary schools’ parking lots. A Facebook post from the festival committee suggested buying the $10 tickets in advance to save a seat. Kids under 5 can ride for free.

The festival website recommends attendees bring cash for all vendor purchases. An ATM will be available on site.

Jeri Cooper, vice president of the Hartsburg Pumpkin Festival committee, said the organization is 100% run by volunteers. The festival requires year-round planning, and Cooper is one of two committee members who organize the event.

When the festival started, its committee had about 20 people. Now, it’s composed of just Cooper and Leslie Martin, the committee president.

“We both really enjoy it, even as stressful as it is,” Cooper said.

But the festival requires a village, and when it is festival weekend, dozens of volunteers, community members, businesses and family members help Martin and Cooper pull the festival together each year.

“All of my family participates in some form or fashion,” Cooper said. “It’s kind of an unwritten rule.”