Back in 2013, Travel & Leisure magazine put Chatham, Massachusetts, at number four on its America’s Best Towns for Halloween list. This designation is lofty, but it shouldn’t be a surprise because the town embraces the holiday every year.
In fact, Trips To Discover, Fortune magazine, and Family Traveller have also put Chatham near the top of their Halloween destination lists over the years. Notably, these publications mentioned the town in the same breath as notoriously spooky locations like Sleepy Hollow, New York, Estes Park, Colorado, and Salem, Massachusetts.
Chatham doesn’t have the same reputation for being haunted as Sleepy Hollow, Estes Park, or Salem, but if such hauntings exist, the town’s 350+ year history certainly makes it a prime spot for ghostly visits. Even without welcoming guests from the beyond, though, Chatham gets into the Halloween spirit every October with its signature Pumpkin People in the Park event.
Pumpkin People in the Park is a fun, family-friendly exhibition that runs for a couple of weeks every October, ensuring you can do something unique this Halloween season without scarring your kids for life.
Here’s some information on what to expect at Chatham Pumpkin People in the Park in 2022.
When and Where
In 2022, Pumpkin People in the Park takes place from October 14 to 31 at Kate Gould Park. This park sits just off Main Street at 15 Chatham Bars Avenue, right beside the Wild Goose Tavern.
There’s a small parking lot at the park, and it’s usually possible to find a spot nearby when visiting in the shoulder season. Chatham Town Parking Lot is close, too, if Kate Gould Park is too far to walk from your Cape Cod vacation rental.
What is Pumpkin People in the Park?
It might sound odd, but Pumpkin People in the Park is like a community-owned art project where participants will create scenes in the park using pumpkins. Artists will usually craft people out of hay or other items and attach a pumpkin head to them, hence the name of the event.
Each display also has a theme. For example, a local oyster company might develop a pumpkin person who is harvesting or selling shellfish. Other scenes you might encounter include a family of Pilgrims, pumpkin dogs and cats, knights, sunbathing pumpkins, and Santa pumpkins.
Local businesses and families get in on the act every October, and many locals can’t wait to get down there to see what kind of creative pumpkin people are on display this year. You can get up close to the exhibits, as well, if you want your picture taken with a few of your favorite scenes.
Keep in mind that while you can participate in the festival as a visitor if you’re willing to pay a $50 entry fee, all exhibits must be set up between 10:00 AM and 1:00 PM on October 14 and remain on-site through October 31. You’re responsible for removing your display after the event.
Chatham’s Oktoberfest
The busiest and most festive time to visit Pumpkin People in the Park is during Chatham’s annual Oktoberfest celebration, which shares the venue. This year’s event runs from 10:30 AM until 4:30 PM on October 22 and is sure to be a highlight of your Cape Cod vacation in the fall.
Oktoberfest 2022 will include family-friendly activities like face painting, pumpkin bowling, and apple bobbing, keeping the young ones occupied throughout the day. There will also be live music, artisan vendors, and a beer garden featuring offerings from Devil’s Purse Brewery, which will get you in the festive spirit.
On-site food vendors in 2022 include the Captain’s Table, Chatham Harvesters, Depot Dogs, and Dancing Spoons. There’s sure to be enough variety for even the pickiest eaters in your family.
If you only have time to visit Pumpkin People in the Park once this year, make October 22 the day.
Halloween in Chatham
Those planning a Halloween vacation in 2022 could certainly do worse than Chatham, Massachusetts. This town and the rest of the Cape are beautiful in the fall, and life slows down considerably when seasonal residents leave after the summer.
As a result, you can explore the Cape without the crowds while taking advantage of wonderful autumn traditions like Pumpkin People in the Park in Chatham, MA.
