FAMILY STAGE + SCHEDULE

Hilarious Antics, Cowgirl Tricks and

Youth Talent Show on the Family Stage

NOTE: Content below is from 2009 event. Check back 3-4 weeks before the event for updated information.

Showstopping cowgirl tricks and shenanigans by Karen Quest, amazing magic tricks and fabulous feats of skill by the brilliant Grinn & Barrett, and the return of The Golden Gourds Youth Talent Show will mesmerize festivalgoers of all ages on the Safeway Family Stage at the Half Moon Bay Art & Pumpkin Festival, October 16-17 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Main Street.

Visitors can be part of the “show” themselves by participating in the popular pie eating contests and non-competitive pumpkin carving will also be available. Homegrown talent takes center stage at “The Golden Gourds”, a youth talent showcase. It’s all happening in the Bank of America Family Fun Zone, located in the Bank of America parking lot, 620 Main Street.

Karen Quest Cowgirl Tricks Grinn & Barrett Pumpkin pie eating contest

Karen Quest has been blazing a trail with her one-woman Vaudeville-style comedy Western act, “Cowgirl Tricks”. It’s a fun-filled variety show with rope spinning, whip cracking, improvisation, audience participation and lots of kooky cowgirl shenanigans specially crafted for family audiences. Cowgirl Tricks is the only solo female comedy act of its kind. Cowgirl Karen engages her audience with a special brand of humor that must be experienced to be appreciated. Karen Quest’s talent runs deep. She has had stints with the No Elephant Circus in New York City, was a certified instructor with Circus Education Specialists, toured throughout Europe as part of the two-woman comedy juggling duo “Gravity’s Last Stand”, was one of the first “bus babes” on Ben & Jerry’s Traveling Show and has been a featured performer with San Francisco’s Pickle Family Circus and Make A Circus. 

Kids of all ages will be thrilled and enchanted by dynamic duo Grinn & Barrett. The internationally renown pair is made up of Katrine Grinn from Copenhagen and Mitchell Barrett from New York, who together have been delighting audiences all around the world since 1988 with their perfect blend of comedy and skill. These masters of mayhem perform all sorts of incredible feats, like juggling pins, knives, or flaming brands, tightrope walking, and 6-foot-tall unicycle riding. Then they do them all at once, all while maintaining a steady stream of rapid fire comedy and hilarious audience involvement. Their dynamic and original show has made them a not-to-be-missed Pumpkin Festival favorite.

On Saturday and Sunday at 3 p.m., the Pumpkin Festival will showcase sensational homegrown artistic talent with “The Golden Gourds”, a youth talent show produced by local actor/director Michael Lederman. Featuring a wide variety of amazing talent, from singers, bands and dancers, to improvisational comedians and poets, “The Golden Gourds” will have a real “awards show atmosphere” complete with the presentation of gold-painted mini pumpkins to the performers. There will be 12 to 15 acts each day, with participants ranging from kindergarteners to young adults in their early 20s.

Fesivalgoers will have plenty of opportunities to be part of the festivities.

Power eaters can step up to the plate to gorge and “wear” their favorite dessert in the Pumpkin Pie Eating Contest. Contenders race to devour a nine-inch pumpkin pies loaded with whipped cream. Panache and style go a long way with the audience judges. The contest will be held on Saturday and Sunday at 2 p.m. for kids 11-years-old and under and at 2:15 p.m. for those 12 and older. Who will be the winner? You be the judge!

Non-competitive Pumpkin Carving will be available on Sunday. It is not a contest, there’s no judging or awards … it’s simply for fun. Pumpkins and carving knives are provided. Create your very own masterpiece anytime between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.