Evans City PumpkinFest rings in autumn with themed vendors, activities
EVANS CITY — Despite some rain, the two days of the fifth annual Evans City PumpkinFest were filled with families and vendors ringing in autumn’s arrival.
The festival took over Evans City’s side roads Saturday, Sept. 19 and Sunday, Sept. 20, filling the borough with craft and food vendors, children’s activities, live music and fall-themed decor.
Along South Jackson Street, families watched as children played miniature golf and pumpkin tic-tac-toe as well as on inflatables and in the corn box — a seasonal take on the sand box.
Both sides of Main Street and many of the streets in the north side of the borough were taken over by vendors selling crocheted items, candles, wooden decor, jewelry and more.
One vendor, Caitlin Painter, sold handmade jewelry alongside her 13-year-old daughter, Hadley Painter, who sold buttons with hand-drawn designs. Caitlin Painter said she has sold her crafts at PumpkinFest before, but took a year off after moving to Butler.
“It’s been pretty good so far,” she said. “We’re lucky to have a lot of things that other stands don’t.”
She said her jewelry designs vary in time commitment and technical know-how, but she finds joy in bringing her ideas to life and selling them at events like PumpkinFest.
Hadley said she finds drawing fun and works with her mom to make a bit of cash.
“I’ll use it to buy more art supplies, or maybe to go to the (Renaissance) fair,” she said.
Caitlin Painter said she loves PumpkinFest as it brings a lot of people into the small town she used to call home.
“It’s a nice community event here. We’ve seen a lot of people from Evans City and a lot from Butler, too. It has a lot of people coming in,” she said.
Molly DiFiore, vice president of the Evans City Events Committee, said bringing people in to the borough is a large part of why the committee is so driven to making the event bigger and better this year.
“When you’re walking around, you’ll see a ton of families. That’s why we try to make everything free — the wagon and carriage rides, live music, kids’ activities and the pumpkin pie social we had last night, where everyone got a free piece,” she said.
Thanks to a grant from Experience Butler County, the committee was able to organize “Pumpkin Pops and Rocket Tops,” Saturday’s closing event that featured live music from Chris Jamison, followed by fireworks.
“We could not do this without the support of our volunteers and sponsors. We’re so grateful that they’re all willing to pour into Evans City,” she said.
While Saturday’s festivities ended with a bang, Sunday had plenty of events and activities. Chief among them was the 1 p.m. pumpkin pie eating contest, where 10 contestants scarfed down an 8-inch pie in minutes.
During this year’s contest, the former champion and pastor of St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, Brandon Johns, was defeated by newcomer Adam Snider of McCandless.
Snider said it was not only his first time participating in a pie eating contest, but also his first time in any food contest.
“I actually ate lunch here before this,” he said.
He said he and his girlfriend decided to check out PumpkinFest after looking for something fun to do on a day off.
“It was a last minute decision. My girlfriend and I were thinking of something fun to do, and we thought it’d be nice to do something fall-related,” he said.
DiFiore said the reason PumpkinFest is at the end of September instead of later on is to help ring in the new season.
“We love being people’s start of fall,” she said.
Evans City PumpkinFest is expected to return next September.
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A parent joins in the foam fun at the Evans City PumpkinFest Saturday, Sept. 19. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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Amish doughnuts were a popular stop at Evans City PumpkinFest Saturday, Sept. 19. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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Joe Maxwell throws a star with Gideon Maxwell at Evans City PumpkinFest Saturday, Sept. 19. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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Gideon Maxwell throws a star at Evans City PumpkinFest Saturday, Sept. 19. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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Gospel Life's pastor Dave Trepanier was on hand to answer questions at Evans City PumpkinFest Saturday, Sept. 19. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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A girl uses an umbrella to protect against falling foam on Saturday, Sept. 19, at PumpkinFest in Evans City. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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Gospel Life Church provided many services for festival participants at Evans City PumpkinFest Saturday, Sept. 19. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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A boy claps on a foam bubble at Evans City PumpkinFest Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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The Stone Keys perform at the Evans City PumpkinFest Saturday, Sept. 19. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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A sign directs attendees to Amish doughnuts at Evans City PumpkinFest Saturday, Sept. 19. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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Abigail Oesterling, right, and Tim Vantine, left, discuss logistics of the children’s games at Evans City PumpkinFest Saturday, Sept. 19. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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Children play in the foam at Evans City PumpkinFest Saturday, Sept. 19. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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Heavy foam was present at Evans City PumpkinFest Saturday, Sept. 19. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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A princess on the pumpkin carriage ride at Evans City PumpkinFest Saturday, Sept. 19. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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The rain didn't stop attendees from coming to Evans City PumpkinFest Saturday, Sept. 19. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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Children didn't notice the drizzle with all the activities at Evans City PumpkinFest Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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One of many vendors at Evans City PumpkinFest Saturday, Sept. 19. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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Connor Geibel plays miniature golf at Evans City PumpkinFest Saturday, Sept. 19. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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The forecast called for 100% foam at Evans City PumpkinFest Saturday, Sept. 19. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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Anne Schaar gives a lift to Link O'Donnell while looking at the vendor booths at Evans City PumpkinFest Saturday, Sept. 19. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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Left to right, Evans City events committee members Keith Reagan, Molly DiFiore, Amy Jones, Pam Greenawalt, and Ronny Rehab pose in the rain and foam at Evans City PumpkinFest Saturday, Sept. 19. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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A girl is prepared to play in the foam at Evans City PumpkinFest Saturday, Sept. 19. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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Many craft vendors showed their products at Evans City PumpkinFest Saturday, Sept. 19. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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Gospel Life Church provided hay rides through town at Evans City PumpkinFest Saturday, Sept. 19. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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Amelia Wirfer, right, gets her face painted by Miranda Snyder on Saturday, Sept. 19, at PumpkinFest in Evans City. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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Children play in the foam at Evans City PumpkinFest Saturday, Sept. 19. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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The umbrellas came out for rain and foam at Evans City PumpkinFest Saturday, Sept. 19. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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Amelia Skowron enjoys an Amish doughnut at Evans City PumpkinFest Saturday, Sept. 19. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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Children play in the foam at Evans City PumpkinFest Saturday, Sept. 19. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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A child spins a wheel on Saturday, Sept. 19, at PumpkinFest in Evans City. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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Noah Robertson, right, gives his grandfather, Jim Robertson, a high five on Saturday, Sept. 19, at PumpkinFest in Evans City. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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A family rides in the pumpkin carriage on Saturday, Sept. 19, at PumpkinFest in Evans City. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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Foam was one of the many games and activities at Evans City PumpkinFest Saturday, Sept. 19. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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A young girl dressed in a firefighter helmet plays in the foam at Evans City PumpkinFest Saturday, Sept. 19. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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There was 100% chance of foam at Evans City PumpkinFest Saturday, Sept. 19. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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A girl makes a foam angel at Evans City PumpkinFest Saturday, Sept. 19. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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Gospel Life Church has a new ark on the playground just in case of heavy rains at Evans City PumpkinFest Saturday, Sept. 19. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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A person dances in the foam and rain at Evans City PumpkinFest Saturday, Sept. 19. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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Children laugh as they play in foam on Saturday, Sept. 19, at PumpkinFest in Evans City. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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Children play in the corn box on Saturday, Sept. 19, at PumpkinFest in Evans City. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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In spite of rain and heavy foam, children came out to enjoy the fun at Evans City PumpkinFest Saturday, Sept. 19. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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Gospel Life Church has a new ark on the playground just in case of heavy rains at Evans City PumpkinFest Saturday, Sept. 19. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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Noah Robertson knocks over some cans on Saturday, Sept. 19, at PumpkinFest in Evans City. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
