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It was a smashing 'gourd' time at the 45th annual Half Moon Bay Art & Pumpkin Festival this past weekend. Once again Pacific Coast TV was on the scene to capture and broadcast all of the pumped-up pumpkin action!
It's estimated that this year's festival was attended by over 100,000 pumpkin enthusiasts, both local and from afar. Since its introduction in 1970, the festival has grown from what was once a hometown homage to the indigenous fruit, to what has blossomed into a full-blown, highly anticipated pumpkin palooza.
If you're Looking for all-things pumpkin, HMB Pumpkin Festival is definitely the place to peruse.
Every square inch of Historic Main Street was populated with plenty of pumpkin paraphernalia.
Aside from being able to pick the perfect pumpkin from Half Moon Bay's hearty harvest, highlights from the festival included: Live music, DIY art stations, an expert pumpkin carving exhibition, pie eating contest, a haunted barn and The Great Pumpkin Parade.
A plethora of vendors were present peddling their pumpkin products and an array of other
interesting items.
Hats seem to be tops at HMB Art and Pumpkin Festival and there was no shortage of people sporting green stemmed orange berets. If being a pumpkin-head is not exactly your thing you could opt to purchase other Halloween inspired head gear. There were handmade witch hat and skull headbands, a plenty, in addition to cute little cat ears running around everywhere.
I myself opted to buy a spider inspired headpiece and I have to say it was quite a hit!
Once I had appropriately themed head gear it was time to continue my quest for, you guessed it, a bag to hold all of the goodies I was sure to collect over the two-day fest. Luckily, presenting sponsor, Safeway saved the day with their glow-in-the-dark, trick or treat bag giveaway.
The lines were long but well worth the wait. And if you took a picture in their photo booth and posted to either Instagram of Facebook using the hashtag #SafewayHMBPumpkin you were automatically entered to win a $25 Safeway gift card.
After I got my hat and my bag, it was time to focus on food.
Naturally, I had to try the pumpkin mac & cheese being sold by Mariner's Church Coastside. It was a creamy mashup of savory cheese and pumpkin spices topped with roasted pumpkin seeds. Yum!
To wash it down, I headed over to the Half Moon Bay Winery booth to treat myself to a pumpkin harvest ale. Although it was my first trip to that vendor, over the duration of the weekend I must admit that it was not my last.
I basically ate my way through the Half Moon Bay Art & Pumpkin Festival, much in the same way, Templeton the Rat, did during his Schmorgasboard-orgasboard at the fair in the movie Charlotte's Web.
I enjoyed a pumpkin pretzel with pumpkin sweet sauce, a chicken/pumpkin sausage, a different pumpkin ale from Traveler Beer Company, a delicious roasted pumpkin chicken chili from Sonoma-based Rocky and Rosie Chicken and of course pumpkin pie.
I wanted so badly to try the pumpkin ice cream, but miserably failed to save any space. Oh well, at least I have something to look forward to at next year's Half Moon Bay Art &Pumpkin Festival. And on behalf of Pacific Coast Television, I hope to see you there!
Hosted annually in Pacifica, California, Fog Fest 2015 marked 30 years of celebrating the Coastside community! Fog Fest takes place the last full weekend in September, a time when we bid a fond farewell to summer and extend a hearty hello to the season of autumn.
What better way to commemorate the seasonal transition than with one big party with the picturesque backdrops and perfect climates of Pacifica.
Fog Fest offers something for absolutely everyone!
If you have a thing for unique arts and crafts, you're in luck because Fog Fest always has an ample supply of regional vendors selling their artisan wares. Come prepared to shop ‘til you drop. The first thing I purchased was a one-of-a-kind custom tote bag from, Accessories With Love. This was of course, was my most important purchase because I knew I would need it to hold all the goodies I would accumulate over the next two days.
And accumulate goodies, I did indeed. In fact, I could have used two custom totes by the time it was all said and done. In addition to custom totes festival goes could purchase custom made clothing, jewelry, hats, paintings, surfboards and even a mini ocean ecosystem. That's just quick snapshot of available items.
One of my favorite Fog Fest vendors is, We Have a Cap for That. They specialize in making the most darling pendants from retro bottle caps. How cute is that?
This year, the one I scored pictures the Eiffel Tower encased in a recycled Dr. Wells Strawberry Soda bottle cap. I've worn it every day since I got it and it's been a great little conversation piece.
While you're busy shopping you can also bop along to the live sounds coming from three music stages. South Stage, sponsored by Recology of the Coast is live-streamed through the duration of the festival on PCT channel 26. Featuring a mashup of music that includes Funk Soul, Country, Rock, Reggae
and more. Acts performing on the Recology Stage included California Cowboys, Bar Fight, Neon Velvet and Bay Area favorites Bayonics.
And let's not forget about the food at Fog Fest. Festival goers are encouraged to enjoy cuisine representing every corner from across the globe. It was a difficult decision but I finally settled on the crawfish etouffee and shrimp po’boy from New Orleans Catering and it did not disappoint. Other available entrees included: BBQ oysters from Aroma Concessions, Philly cheesesteak from Pedemonte & Co, corn on the cob from California Corn Roast and we cannot forget the incredible crab fries and gyros from Gourmet Faire.
You'll most likely need something to wash all that yummy down your tummy and once again, Fog Fest has got you completely covered. They have a signature drink called the Fog Cutter but proceed with caution cause this libation packs quite the upper cut. It's a delightful array of colorfully hued spirits that can be purchased in a souvenir keepsake Fog Fest glass.
For an additional fee you can get any of your choice beverages in a keepsake beer tumbler, wine glass or shot glass.
Even sports enthusiast could get in on the action at this year's Fog Fest. The Super Bowl 50 Host Committee selected Fog Fest to display an impressive exhibit of the five SF 49ers and three Oakland Raiders Super Bowl trophies.
I can't wait to see what they have in store for next year's Fog Fest festivities. The 30 year anniversary will definitely be a tough fest to follow.
