DS Pumpkin Festival opens for second year

The Dripping Springs Pumpkin Festival celebrated the start of their second season with a ribbon-cutting ceremony late last month, co-hosted by the Dripping Springs Chamber of Commerce.

The ceremony, which took place on Saturday, Sept. 24, officially opened this year’s added attractions and activities at the Dr. Pound Historical Farmstead, a Texas State Historical Landmark. The festival will run from Sept. 24 to Oct. 31, open daily from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. but closed on Tuesdays for pumpkin deliveries.

Weekend admission is $10, and tickets are $5 on weekdays. (Admission on Columbus Day will be $10). Admission is always free for children three and under and seniors (65+). Parking for the event is also free of charge.

Free Community Mondays will be held on Oct. 17 and 24. On Wednesdays, first responders and medical personnel, along with their immediate families, will be able to attend the fest for free. On Thursdays, the festival will offer free admission to veterans and active military along with their immediate families. On Fridays, educators and their immediate families can attend the festival for free. A portion of the proceeds from the festival will benefit the Friends of the Pound House Foundation.

This year’s celebration will feature Mitotiliztli Yaoyollohtli (Ancient Aztec Ceremonial Dancing) on Saturday, Oct. 8, and an American Indian Powwow on Sunday, Oct. 9, in recognition of Indigenous Peoples Day. Children’s goat yoga is held every Saturday and Sunday in addition to live pumpkin carvings and workshops by Guinness World Record Holder Deane Arnold from Food Network’s Halloween Wars and Outrageous Pumpkins; a Butterfly Jubilee with live releases on Oct. 9 and 10; and a Pumpkin Jamboree with contests and giveaways on Oct. 15 and 16.

The 2022 Dripping Springs Pumpkin Festival will also feature a variety of attractions for all ages, including a littles pickin’ patch, a lost souls cemetery, a massive pumpkin and gourd patch and an abundance of photo opportunities. Ticketed attractions and activities range from a minimum of $3 to $15, including balloon art, caricature art, face painting, henna art, barrel rides, pony rides, an exotic petting zoo, a parakeet encounter and a classic photo booth.

The festival’s principal producer Christopher Durst has been organizing pumpkin patches with family for nearly 30 years and has a long history producing music festivals and events.

“We felt compelled to step in and assist the Friends of the Pound House Foundation with their fundraising efforts,” said Durst. “The Dr. Pound Historical Farmstead is a true Texas treasure… and it has been a community gathering place since being settled in 1854. We are super pleased with last year’s fundraising results, and we look forward to fundraising for the Pound House for years to come.”