[9] For the first decade of its existence, the Keene Pumpkin Festival regularly set the record for the most lit jack-o'-lanterns, culminating in the figure (as recognized by the Guinness World Records) of 28,952 lit jack-o'-lanterns on October 25, 2003,[10] but this was broken when Boston, Massachusetts, collected 30,128 on October 21, 2006.

The festivities also include fireworks, music, and food, and draw in people from all over New Hampshire and adjoining states.

Almost immediately after the festival is over, the pumpkins are hauled away by volunteer work crews and given to pig farmers, to use as food.

Keene Pumpkin Festival 2009 was held on Saturday, October 17, and an estimated 70,000 people attended the event.

In 2010, the Keene Pumpkin Festival organizers, Center Stage Cheshire County, stepped down from running the event, leaving it in limbo for 2011.

[6][7][8] In July 2020, the Lakes Region Chamber of Commerce announced the cancellation of the 2020 festival due to the COVID-19 pandemic in New Hampshire.