The official start of the fall season on Sept. 21 is marked by leaves changing colors, the temperature dropping and pumpkins starting to appear. The City of Oswego is celebrating by announcing a multitude of autumn events that are planned for the coming months. 

The annual Pumpkin Festival will be held Oct. 1 and Oct. 2 at Washington Square Park. This free event is family-friendly and open to the public. The event is sponsored by the Oswego YMCA and the City of Oswego. There will be live music, food and activities from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. 

Neighbors can also look forward to the city-wide scarecrow contest. The registration for this event ends on Oct. 15. Prizes will be given out to the first, second and third place winners. 

Later in the season, the city will be hosting Halloween events. The annual Creepy Crawl begins on Oct. 27 and ends on Oct. 29. This celebration will feature live bands such as Headfirst, Bonfire and Dunes & the Del-Tunes. There will also be ax chuckers, rock climbing, a mechanical bull, live music and food located in Rotary Park. The Creepy Crawl will take place along East First Street.

The Creepy Crawl typically includes a haunted riverwalk, but this year event organizers have tried something new. The event will now have a haunted trail within the former train tunnel, equipped with spooky surprises.

For the third year, the City of Oswego will be hosting the Halloween Trunk or Treating event at the Oswego Speedway. The event was first created in 2020 and it allowed for safe trick or treating during the COVID-19 pandemic. This year’s event will happen on Oct. 29 from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. Families will be allowed to enter the speedway from the main entrance and circle the track as local businesses hand out candy to the kids. Decorative inflatables, music and decorations will line the track area as kids make their way around. If the weather is uncooperative, the event will be conducted in a drive-thru style. 

“This event allows Oswego residents a great opportunity to get in the Halloween spirit, collect some candy and interact with local leaders, businesses, and organizations,” Billy Barlow, City of Oswego mayor, said. “Thank you to the Oswego Speedway and the Oswego Youth Bureau for partnering together once again to host this popular event.”

More information about these upcoming events can be found at oswegony.org.

Photo via oswegony.org