Looking for an adorable painted Halloween pumpkin, something spookier, or a more elegant Thanksgiving pumpkin? Sneak peaks of samples can be seen around town now. Over 70 to choose from during the auctions. So many choices! 

Three whitewashed decorative pumpkins with brown grosgrain bows, center tied with a Made in Portugal ribbon
Thanksgiving Pumpkins by Giudita

Plus auctions, games, and activities for all ages. And magical facepaintings by Melissa Kellogg. Come join the fun: 

Pumpkins Palooza Family Celebration, Taste of the Town Raffle Drawing, & Auctions:

Thursday, October 15, 2026, at 5:30PM-8:00PM

Location: Miners Foundry and Cultural Center, 325 Spring Street, Nevada City, CA.

Admission: $10 per adult at the door; students and children are free. 
Includes free grilled hot dogs and treats!

Attire: Costumes are highly encouraged but not required.

Black pumpkin painted with ghost jokes: "Why did the ghost cross the road to get to the other side!" "Why don't ghosts lie? You can see right through them!" "What do ghosts serve for dessert? I-scream & boo-berry pie," decorated with stars and ghosts, in front of a Pumpkin Auction & Restaurant Raffle Bonanza poster
Pumpkin hand-painted with monarch butterflies and caterpillar, ringed with silk autumn flowers, displayed for the Pumpkins Palooza auction

Plus the Taste of the Town Restaurant Raffle has unbeatable odds to win the Grand Prize $1,000 package of 10 $100 Restaurant dining experiences as well as smaller bite sized drawings — far better than most raffles you’ll see this year! Only 100 raffle tickets will be sold for $100 each (includes entry for 2) from Nevada City Rotarians or at the door. Raffle tickets are selling fast.

Pumpkin painted green with a witch face and black witch hat, displayed on a shop counter
Pumpkin painted purple with glitter top, ghosts, swirls, and the word BOO, entered in a pumpkin decorating contest

Nineteen participating restaurants include Lola’s, Cirino’s at Main Street, Sushi in the Raw, Sushi Q, Taste of Thai, Sopa Thai, Three Forks Bakery and Brewing, Toffanelli’s, Golden Gate Saloon, Deer Creek Bar & Grill, Jernigan’s, The River, Friar Tucks, Katmandu Hippie, Port of Subs Catering, Tuscany Gardens, Heartwood, Miner Moe’s Pizza, and Pepe’s Cafe.

Entry tickets are $10 for adults at the door, students & kids free!

Proceeds go to support many local projects:

  • The newly launched Dolly Parton Imagination Library Nevada County, which mails a free book every month to local children from birth through age five, building a love of reading before they ever start school.
  • Girls Who Code, A STEM Club at Seven Hills Middle School to introduce young girls to computer science and discover their own aptitude
  • Local youth and community service projects that keep Nevada City strong, from scholarships to hands-on volunteer work.
  • Rotary’s international mission to end polio, part of a decades-long global effort that has put the world on the edge of eradicating the disease for good.

    Co-sponsored with the City of Nevada City, Nevada City Chamber of Commerce, and Nevada City Public Arts Commission. Organizers anticipate another spectacular turnout as the town comes together to celebrate creativity and community for the Halloween season.
     
    More details at  https://nevadacityrotary.org/page/pumpkins-palooza