The Great Pumpkin Festival celebrates more than 4 decades of pumpkin carving tradition in Whitefish Bay

WHITEFISH BAY, Wis. (CBS 58) -- The Great Pumpkin Festival started as a lawn display in front of resident Gordy Falk's home in the 1970s. After his pumpkins grew by the hundreds and the crowds grew by the thousands, the displays were moved to Old Schoolhouse Park on Fleetwood and Idlewild. 

Since then, it's turned into the Great Pumpkin Festival that takes place today. For 37 years, The Whitefish Bay Civic Foundation has hosted a full festival of jack-o-lanterns, live music and food. 

"We've got a haunted graveyard by the fountain, lots of cool things for people to walk through and feel the Halloween spirit," said Colin Daly, president of the Whitefish Bay Civic Foundation. 

The highlight of the festival for many people is walking through to see the creativity of all the people in and around the village. Hundreds of pumpkins are put on shelves to light up the park. 

Carved and painted pumpkins, Pikachus, popular emojis and props are some of the unique designs you'll see this year. 

"I do like the ones with the props like you mentioned, there's a Jack Skellington that looks really creepy from the Nightmare Before Christmas, plus our big pumpkins," said Daly. 

All of the big pumpkins are created by master carvers. The Whitefish Bay Civic Foundation provides all of the pumpkins from local growers. There are still pumpkins in the patch ready to be carved. 

Make sure to cut a hole in the bottom of your pumpkin so it can be lit at the festival.