Half Moon Bay Cancels Pumpkin Festival 2020 Due To Coronavirus

HALF MOON BAY, CA — Citing coronavirus concerns, Half Moon Bay's 2020 Art & Pumpkin Festival, planned for October, along with this year's Ol’ Fashioned 4th of July Parade are canceled, officials announced today.

"The cancellation of these much-loved community events is sad and unfortunate for the city, our residents and businesses, and the many visitors who eagerly look forward to these festivities each year,” said Half Moon Bay Mayor Adam Eisen.

The decision, made by the Half Moon Bay Beautification Committee board of directors, was not an easy one, but was arrived at after consulting city, county and state authorities, according to an event spokesperson.

“This is absolutely heartbreaking, far beyond words, for our festival committee," said Cameron Palmer, Beautification Committee chairman. “The Pumpkin Festival and 4th of July Parade have been shining lights for decades, bringing people together joyfully and contributing greatly to our sense of place and our sense of community. It's deeply, deeply saddening having to cancel them.”

Plans are still in place, however, to hold Half Moon Bay's 2020 Safeway World Championship Pumpkin Weigh-Off — a NorCal tradition — on Oct. 12, event organizers said, adding that they will work with health officials on needed safety measures.

"Due to the scale and nature of the weigh-off, and the measures we can put in place, we believe we can conduct it in a safe manner for all," a spokesperson said.

While many such summer events as county fairs, July 4th fireworks and concerts were canceled throughout California over recent weeks due to coronavirus concerns, the cancellation of the pumpkin festival is among the first major event to be dropped for the upcoming fall season.

The 2020 Half Moon Bay Art & Pumpkin Festival, initially scheduled for Oct. 17-18, was anticipated, as it has for 50 years, to draw massive crowds from throughout the state, along with serving as a fundraiser for local nonprofits.

"We know fully well the Pumpkin Festival’s critical importance as a fundraiser for more than 30 participating non-profit groups from the community — that is the essence of the festival," Palmer said. "The festival is also a premier showcase event for independent artists, musicians and corporate partners and a major economic boost for the entire coastside, so it’s a big blow to those fronts as well.”

The Beautification Committee now is exploring alternative fundraising ideas to help make up for the income loss to participating non-profits from the cancellation, organizers said.

"We’ve been holding out hope the situation would improve, but it has become clear there is not a realistic path forward for this year’s festival due to the uncertainty we face as well as the government-issued guidelines prohibiting large public gatherings for the foreseeable future," Palmer said, noting that the safety and well-being of attendees, participants and volunteers are paramount.

Organizers added: "We look forward to celebrating our 50th Art & Pumpkin Festival, October 16-17, 2021 and forge on with resilience and great optimism for the future."

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