Saturday October 18th, 2025 * 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM

Support Buttonwood Nature Center, home of The Institute by bringing your family to a fall celebration of Pumpkins & Pippins!

Our fifth annual Pumpkins and Pippins fall festival location is Pine Hill Recreation Area, 12684 Mentzer Gap Road, Waynesboro, PA.

A fundraiser for Buttonwood, the festival includes a full slate of activities and fun for all ages, including a ‘kid zone’ with yard games, a StoryWalk® hike & activity, a photo stand and more.

Pony rides for kids from Serendipity Horse Meadows Farm provide a fun, memorable experience during the festival. In addition, craft vendors offer a variety of wares.

Sugar Hollow Farm Alpacas will be on site during the festival with several alpacas for visiting.

“We also have a pie walk, a pumpkin patch, and a decorated pumpkin contest,” said Jessica Watson, Buttonwood’s assistant director and event organizer.

“We invite everyone to support Buttonwood Nature Center by bringing your family to a fall celebration of Pumpkins & Pippins.”

A star attraction is the ever-popular trebuchet pumpkin launcher, which will run throughout the day sending pumpkins flying through the sky.

Trebuchets are giant catapult devices that originated in medieval times.

“Our famous trebuchet was built by volunteers who researched the devices thoroughly to create an authentic working model,” Watson said.

“Our trebuchet hurls pumpkins, and it’s great fun to watch how far they fly.”

Our annual DECORATED PUMPKIN CONTEST—You could WIN $100! | See the official contest rules here.

Live music is a festival mainstay.

Enjoy the sound of Mountain Air, performing a mix of acoustic contemporary folk and pop music.

The GRID (Grease, Rust, Iron & Dirt) Tractor Club from Quincy will bring antique tractors, and craft vendors offer a variety of wares. Vendors to be announced.

Those attending can buy lunch from food trucks on site.

A bake sale offers a variety of homemade goodies for dessert.

Pumpkins and cider will be available for purchase.

Admission is by donation, and we accept cash or check.