Despite the almost constant rain, organizers of the Westmont annual Pumpkin Harvest Festival said they still had a good response from the public for the event.

The three-day outdoor event was held during the weekend in tents along Quincy Street across from the Westmont Village Hall.

Even with the rain, Westmont Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Larry Forssberg said organizers were happy with the event.

“It really was hampered by the rain — we basically had to set up and take down everything down in the rain,” he said.

But the rain did not totally wash-out the festival. More than 400 people participated in the Trick-or-Treat Trail, and it did clear up for a few hours.

While the idea of a three-day outdoor festival at the end of October is nice to celebrate Halloween, the weather, especially the rain, did play a factor in attendance, Forssberg said.

“One thing we will look at for next year is possibly moving it up a few weeks earlier next year,” he said. “The temperature isn’t really an issue, the rain is, and it can rain anytime of the year. But that is one thing we need to consider.”

Now in its second year, the festival featured a number of activities, music and food with a fall and Halloween theme. The event is cosponsored by the Village of Westmont, festival co-organizer Al Carson said. Events included a Halloween costume and pumpkin decorating contest, a pumpkin pie-eating contest, a carnival and a miniature golf-tournament.

Carson said a number of community groups and Westmont businesses help to sponsor the event, including the Westmont Lions and Rotary Clubs, the Westmont Jaycees and the Knights of Columbus.

“Clover Garden Center in Westmont donated more than 200 pumpkins for the carving contest,” he said. “Organizations like these help make the Pumpkin Harvest Fest a success.”

Adult costume contest winners
• Scariest Costume
FIRST PLACE Jasmine Blucas as Sweeney Todd
SECOND PLACE Nicole Morgan as a Witch
THIRD PLACE Kristen Frydle as Spider Witch

• Funniest Costume
FIRST PLACE Rollie Frydle as Caesar
SECOND PLACE Barb Latzel as a snow bunny

• Best Overall
FIRST PLACE Bob and Diane Eenigenburg as a pirate and wench
SECOND PLACE Erin Gullotto as Little Miss Muffett