Hartsburg gets ready for pumpkin festival despite drought’s ongoing grip on area
HARTSBURG, MO. (KMIZ)
An organizer of the Hartsburg Pumpkin Festival says this year’s long-term, statewide drought is likely to hurt the pumpkin growers that supply the gourds for the festival.
Hartsburg, a Missouri River town in southern Boone County, has a population of 143 but welcomes thousands of visitors for the festival, in its 32nd year. Attendance is expected to be between 20,000 and 30,000, said organizer Jeri Cooper.
Cooper, who coordinates the parade and music, said the festival will have shuttles available to pick up people in the parking lot. Festival goers can also park at Southern Boone Elementary in Ashland to catch a ride on a shuttle.
The festival kicks off at 9 a.m. Saturday with a crowning or festival royalty and a parade.
Cooper said the farmers who grow pumpkins for the festival are having to take extra steps to source pumpkins for this year’s festival. Drought has racked the state for months. Several Mid-Missouri counties have large areas in “extreme drought” conditions, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor.
