Although temperatures don’t yet reflect the autumnal period, Auburn Recreation and Parks District’s (ARD) annual Harvest Festival kicks off the season at Recreation Park on Saturday.

The festival will include a costume contest and parade, live music from Bam Pow Smash, scarecrow contest, carnival games, food and more than 80 vendors. Members of the community will also compete for bragging rights for the most impressive gourd in the Giant Pumpkin Contest.

Cash prizes with be awarded for first- through seventh-place pumpkins, with the most robust taking home $1,000. A $500 bonus will also be awarded for the largest Placer-grown pumpkin.

This year’s categories for the Scarecrow Contest are People’s Choice, Kids, Group and Open (for either an individual or group creation). Themes are allowed as long as the statement is positive, ARD notes on the event webpage. No automobiles are allowed.

Festival attendees of multiple age groups can also don their scariest and most creative costumes to participate in the parade. Registration begins at 1 p.m., and the parade starts at 2.

Prizes will also be awarded for costumes deemed Most Frightening, Best Disney Themed, Best Homemade, Most Original and Best Pet Costume.

Kahl Muscott, ARD administrator, said the Harvest Festival is his favorite Auburn-area event.

“To say it is my favorite is saying a lot, as I think that Auburn is fabulously rich in wonderful events,” Muscott said in an email to the Auburn Journal.

The Harvest Festival is free to attend and will run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Recreation Park, 123 Recreation Dr. in Auburn. According to ARD, festival events are scheduled as follows:

9:30 a.m. – Giant Pumpkin Contest weighing begins

10 a.m. – Welcoming remarks

10 a.m.-1 p.m. – Registration for Costume Contest

10:45 a.m. – Performance by Skyridge Dance Program

11:15 a.m. – Performance by Auburn Gymnastics

12-1 p.m. – Judging for the Scarecrow contest at ARD booth

12:30 p.m. – Giant Pumpkin awards

1-4 p.m. – Live music from Bam Pow Smash

1:30 p.m. – Costume Parade gathers at bocce courts

2 p.m. – Costume Parade, led by the Sugar Plump Fairies / Voting on People’s Choice Scarecrow ends

3 p.m. – Scarecrow Contest Awards

For more information, visit auburnrec.com/events/auburn-harvest-festival.