Positively Pumpkin: Your Guide to the 2011 Festival

A pumpkin lover's paradise awaits this weekend when crowds from across the Bay Area will converge in Half Moon Bay to celebrate the wonders of the city's character crop.

Unlike some festivals which are one-trick ponies at best — Half Moon Bay's annual spectacle is the full-spectrum deal, with and contests, , and pumpkin carving, a pirate-themed haunted barn and galore.

There's also dozens of arts and crafts vendors, handcrafted Mavericks Pumpkin Harvest Ale, and pumpkin stirred, mixed, and added into several (for classic, think pie, cheesecake, bread and ice cream; for the more unusual, pumpkin churros and pumpkin spice pizza come to mind).

If you eat too much on Saturday, you can burn it off for a good cause by joining the on Sunday morning at the .

And of course, we can't forget the original beauties that preside above it all: on display will be the five giant pumpkins who took top honors at the city's .

This year's winner, an grown by Napa resident Leonardo Urena, will be the centerpiece of Saturday afternoon's parade down Main St.

The crowds are starting to come in now, and you might be wondering whether you'll get yourself through the crush for some fun. But with some smart planning ahead and use of the festival's , the festival and the crowds can be managed to your advantage.

Pick and choose from the weekend's schedule below.

Click for our interactive map highlighting major activities at the festival.

7 a.m. Community (Mac Dutra Park, Kelly Ave. and Main St.)

9 a.m. Festival Opens

Throughout the day: 1,200-lb. with Farmer Mike Valladao (766 Main St. outside the ), haunted barn (505 Johnston St.), arts and crafts on Main St., food booths at IDES Hall lot (735 Main St.), giant pumpkin photos (Miramontes and Main Street).

10 a.m. ( parking lot, 620 Correas Street)

12 noon: featuring this year's grand prizewinning pumpkin, scary-n-sweet costume contest participants, floats, marching bands, classic cars and community groups showing their Half Moon Bay pumpkin pride. (Main St.)

2 p.m. Pie-Eating Contest (), lot (620 Main St.)

2:15 p.m. Pie-Eating Contest (), Bank of America lot

Hint: You can never get there too early to reserve a place at the pie-eating contests — so plan ahead!

3 p.m. - 5 p.m. Smashing Pumpkins Battle of the Bands, Bank of America lot

5 p.m. Festival closes

7 a.m. Community Pancake Breakfast (Mac Dutra Park, Kelly St. and Main St.)

8 a.m. (7 a.m. registration begins) 5k & 10k on Coastside Trail, to benefit . Starting line and registration is at (490 Miramontes St.)

For more information, click here or call 650-712-7322.

9 a.m. Festival Opens

Throughout the day: 1,200-lb. Master Pumpkin Carving with Farmer Mike Valladao (766 Main St. outside the ), haunted barn (505 Johnston St.), arts and crafts on Main St., food booths at IDES Hall lot (735 Main St.), giant pumpkin photos (Miramontes and Main Street).

10 a.m. Junior pumpkin carving, lot (620 Main St.)

2 p.m. Pie-Eating Contest (age 11 and under), Bank of America lot 

2:15 p.m. Pie-Eating Contest (age 12 and up), Bank of America lot 

3 p.m. - 5 p.m. Smashing Pumpkins Battle of the Bands, Bank of America lot

5 p.m. Festival closes

*For more information, visit the festival's website or call 650-726-9652.

*We'll be covering the festival live. Visit Half Moon Bay Patch throughout the weekend for updates on the go:

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