Cochran’s The Great Pumpkin Festival returns for 50th year

Cochran’s Great Pumpkin Festival returns next Saturday, Oct. 17, marking the 50th anniversary of the annual community tradition. 

Chamber officials say the festival will return for a “full day of festival fun,” with dozens of activities and over 200 vendors scheduled including food trucks, shopping booths and arts and crafts. 

“Once a beloved Cochran tradition, the Great Pumpkin Festival filled downtown with families, music, arts and crafts, a road race, agriculture, and community spirit,” a promotional pamphlet for the festival read. “This year, we celebrate the Fiftieth Anniversary of the very first edition of The Great Pumpkin Festival. After many years away from her original name, the Cochran-Bleckley Chamber of Commerce is proud to bring this nostalgic and cherished name back to the glory of this event so new generations can experience the event while honoring the memories of those who enjoyed it years ago.”

The first Great Pumpkin Festival was held back in 1976. Over the years, the annual celebration went through multiple name changes including October Fest and most recently, Country Fest in 2025. 

According to data collected by Georgia Power and AT&T, last year’s Country Fest brought 12,000 people to downtown Cochran in just one day.

This year, the chamber expects even more.

An idea of next Saturday’s itinerary goes as follows:

8 a.m.: The Pumpkin Run 5K will begin a couple hours before the festival officially begins. Though its name might imply otherwise, says Chamber President Melissa Barker, you do not have to run carrying a pumpkin.

10 a.m.: The festival officially starts at the steps of the Bleckley County Courthouse with the national anthem and a word of prayer.

Shortly after, the Pumpkin Decorating Contest will commence. Entrants will decorate a pumpkin using chamber-provided tools and materials. Aprons will also be provided by the chamber.

At the same time, the Kid Zone along E. Beech Street will open with face painting, touch-a-truck booths, inflatables and a ball pit available for children. According to Barker, everything in the Kid Zone will be free.

The car show load-in will start at 10 a.m. and carry on until about noon.

2 p.m.: Winners of the car show will be announced.

5:30: Stacii & the Blackwater Haze Band will perform music at the courthouse steps.

7:30: Rivertown Breakdown will take over music and play until 9:30.

9:15: The night will end with a bang, literally, as fireworks will commence around 9:15.

According to Barker, the exact timeline is still being worked out and is subject to change.

Other activities promised for the event include pony rides, a cake walk and a “beat-a-junker” booth where people can pay to beat an old car with a sledgehammer.

Though the full day of the festival is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 17, the first Pumpkin Festival event actually starts this Saturday, Oct. 10 with the Miss Pumpkin Pageant.

During the pageant, one girl ages 0-18 years old will be chosen as this year’s Miss Pumpkin and will represent the chamber at the Christmas Parade in December. 

Entry for the pageant is $65. Registry is open until the day of the event.

Barker says the chamber is expecting around 15-20 entrants.