Naperville’s Pumpkin Race Returns Saturday, and This Year’s Event Has a Special Milestone

NAPERVILLE— This Saturday, pumpkins will not just be sitting on porches around Naperville. Some of them will be racing downhill on wheels.

The Naperville Pumpkin Race returns October 24 from noon to 3 p.m. at Rotary Hill, and 2026 marks the event’s 10th anniversary. Hosted by Naperville-based Turning Pointe Autism Foundation, the free community event combines pumpkin racing, costumes, food and family activities while supporting programs for children, teens and adults with autism. autismfoundation.org

For families exploring Naperville, there is another advantage to the location: Rotary Hill sits directly along the Naperville Riverwalk, making it easy to turn the race into an afternoon exploring one of the Western Suburbs’ best-known public spaces.

How the Naperville Pumpkin Race Actually Works

This is not a traditional footrace.

Participants turn real pumpkins into four-wheeled racers, then send them head-to-head down the racecourse in a single-elimination tournament. Turning Pointe sells $25 pumpkin race kits containing axles, wheels, bearings and hardware, and pumpkins and kits will also be available at the event while supplies last.

The official schedule begins with registration at noon, followed by races for Turning Pointe classrooms at 12:30 p.m. Community heats run from 1 to 2 p.m.

At 2 p.m., the focus briefly shifts from speed to creativity with both the costume contest and pumpkin decorating contest. The costume competition is divided into age groups of 0-5, 6-10, 11-15 and 16+. Business races start at 2:15, followed by the quarterfinals, semifinals and championship race before the event ends at 3 p.m.

Admission and participation are free, although purchasing a race kit supports Turning Pointe. The organization says its students assemble the kits as part of vocational education, giving the fundraiser a direct connection to its employment-training programs. Patch

Why the 10th Anniversary Matters

The race is happening during National Disability Employment Awareness Month, which fits closely with Turning Pointe’s broader mission.

Proceeds help support the nonprofit’s programs for people with autism, including adult employment services designed to develop workplace skills and greater independence.

This year’s anniversary also includes another fundraiser. Turning Pointe plans to announce the winner of a 2026 Ford Bronco Sport Big Bend raffle during Saturday’s event.

That combination helps explain why the Pumpkin Race has lasted a decade. It is a lighthearted fall event, but the racing and fundraising are tied directly to a local organization and its programs.

Families can also expect food vendors, face painting and other activities during the afternoon.

Make It a Riverwalk Afternoon

The location may be one of the best reasons to stick around after the final pumpkin crosses the finish line.

Rotary Hill sits beside the Millennium Carillon in Moser Tower, the 16-story landmark containing a 72-bell instrument. From there, visitors are already on the Naperville Riverwalk.

The Riverwalk stretches about 1.75 miles through Downtown Naperville, with brick paths, bridges, fountains, public art and recreational spaces along the DuPage River.

Walk west from Rotary Hill and you quickly reach the Centennial Beach area, playgrounds and additional park space. Head east instead and the path brings you toward Downtown Naperville’s restaurants, shops and gathering spaces.

One practical note for Saturday: the Park District says the normally scheduled Saturday Millennium Carillon recital will not take place October 24, so do not plan your visit around the regular noon performance.

That still leaves plenty to do before or after the race, and it makes the event particularly easy for families who do not want to spend the entire afternoon in one place.

Parking Is Different This Year

If you are driving, pay attention to the event’s updated parking guidance.

Turning Pointe specifically notes that parking has changed for 2026 and recommends several options around Downtown Naperville, including designated parking at St. John’s Episcopal Church, the Naperville Municipal Parking Garage, Water Street Parking Garage, Centennial Beach parking and street parking near Naper Settlement.

With registration opening at noon and community racing starting at 1 p.m., arriving a little early gives families time to park, get a pumpkin ready and find the race area before the busiest part of the afternoon.

The event is held at Rotary Hill, 443 Aurora Ave., Naperville, beside the Millennium Carillon.

Why Events Like This Help Explain Naperville’s Appeal

For someone thinking about moving to Naperville, a community event can reveal things a housing search cannot.

Saturday’s race puts families in the middle of Rotary Hill, the Riverwalk and Downtown Naperville, showing how parks, recreation, local organizations and commercial areas connect within a relatively compact part of the city.

That does not mean attending one pumpkin race tells you everything about living here.

But it does provide a glimpse of why many buyers considering the Western Suburbs look beyond bedrooms and school boundaries. Parks, walkable gathering places, community traditions and things to do with children can become part of the everyday value of a neighborhood.

And this weekend, all of that comes with pumpkins on wheels.

Planning Your Saturday

The 10th Annual Naperville Pumpkin Race takes place Saturday, October 24 from noon to 3 p.m. at Rotary Hill. The event is free, while optional pumpkin race kits cost $25. Full race instructions, parking information and registration are available through.

If you go, leave time afterward for the Riverwalk and Downtown. That turns a three-hour event into an easy fall afternoon and gives you a much better feel for the community around it.

Considering a Move to Naperville or the Western Suburbs?

The Cory Tanzer Group at Option Premier helps buyers and relocation clients compare homes, neighborhoods, commute options, parks and community amenities across Naperville and the Western Suburbs.

A home search tells you what is available.

Spending a weekend in the community can help tell you whether you actually want to live there.

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