CROWN POINT | Seekers of the Great Pumpkin might find him in Crown Point this year.

For the first time, Crown Point's three historical foundations -- the Lake Court House Foundation Inc., the Old Sheriff's House Foundation Inc. and the Old Homestead Preservation Society -- will come together to celebrate Crown Point's 175th anniversary with a Pumpkin Festival. It's scheduled from 4 to 10 p.m. Oct. 24 on the downtown courthouse square. Admission is free.

Karen Shook, Old Homestead Preservation Society secretary, got the idea for the festival from a similar event in Keene, N.H.

"It sounds like lots and lots of fun," said Martha Wheeler, Lake Court House Foundation president. "The fun part is what we're stressing."

The two said Friday the event will ask attendees to bring a carved pumpkin to place on the concrete wall that surrounds the courthouse. There will be a country music band, pumpkin seed spitting contests, a pumpkin pie walk and a pumpkin bean bag toss.

"You can bring three pumpkins if you want," Shook said.

At the Wellington Clark Homestead, Indian stories will be told, and children will be able to make story sticks and twig bowls.

Ghost stories written by the Rev. Mark Wilkins will be told on the porch of the Old Sheriff's House.

At the end of the evening, visitors are welcome to take home their pumpkins, and leftover pumpkins will be donated to nearby cattle and pig farms to be used as animal feed.

To help the festival by volunteering, call the Lake Court House Foundation at (219) 663-0660, Wheeler at (219) 663-2435 or Shook at (219) 663-7678.