This Small Midwestern Town Is the 'Pumpkin Capital of the World'-and It Turns Bright Orange Every Fall

"Tucked between Peoria and Bloomington in central Illinois, about three hours from Chicago, is the small town of Morton. With its quiet streets, neat homes, and grain silos standing tall against big skies. But come fall, this community of just 17,000 turns orange as it transforms into the "Pumpkin Capital of the World." The title isn't just for show. Morton is home to the Libby's Pumpkin processing plant, a facility that makes about 85 percent of the world's canned pumpkin supply."

"Every fall, farmers haul in thousands of tan-skinned Dickinson pumpkins, which are a smaller, denser, and sweeter variety than your average jack-o'-lantern. They're the secret behind the pumpkin purée you see on grocery shelves every Thanksgiving-and around here, pumpkin is a way of life. Since 1967, the Morton Pumpkin Festival has been the highlight of the year, bringing more than 75,000 visitors for four days of parades, live music, and pie-eating contests, along with chili, doughnuts, and lattes."

Morton is a small central Illinois town of about 17,000 located between Peoria and Bloomington. Morton hosts Libby's Pumpkin processing plant, which produces roughly 85 percent of the world's canned pumpkin. Farmers deliver thousands of tan-skinned Dickinson pumpkins each fall, a smaller, denser, sweeter variety used for purée. Since 1967, the Morton Pumpkin Festival attracts more than 75,000 visitors for parades, live music, pie-eating contests, a pumpkin weigh-off, and seasonal foods. Downtown features family-run shops, Memorial Plaza, Roth Pumpkin Patch, popular local restaurants, chain hotels, and nearby attractions such as Wildlife Prairie Park.

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