Hundreds of carved and decorated pumpkins are spread throughout the grounds of the DeKalb County Courthouse during the annual Sycamore Pumpkin Festival. (Chronicle Media file photo)

Retired Sycamore High School principal Tim Carlson has been named grand marshal of next month’s Sycamore Pumpkin Festival parade.

Festival officials said they are recognizing Carlson’s dedication to the community, which included a 31-career with the Sycamore school district and the last 15 as high school principal.

Carlson has also held other roles that contributed to the school district’s overall success including athletic director, boys basketball coach, drivers education instructor, adaptive PE teacher, para-professional and substitute teacher. He even stepped in as a bus driver when needed.

Born and raised in DeKalb County, he is a graduate of Malta High School, Kishwaukee College and Northern Illinois University. He and his wife, Belinda, are parents to Ashley Mazzullo, Jenee Carlson, and Kylei Carlson. He’s also stepfather to Dustin Fischer and Gracie Fischer.

The annual Pumpkin Festival started out as an idea by Wally Thurow in 1956 to offer something creative for the students of Sycamore. It has grown from a neighborhood display on his front yard into the town’s biggest city-wide event.

This year it begins on Oct. 21 with pumpkin distribution followed by an Oct. 25 Opening Ceremony and cake cutting. The festival concludes on Oct. 28 with a parade.

The festival has over 1,000 entries in the Lions Decorated Pumpkin Display, two carnivals, many not-for-profit vendors, two indoor craft shows, entertainment, and other activities and concludes with a 90-minute parade.

Every year, the Pumpkin Festival unites more than 30 DeKalb County not-for-profit groups, working to provide a weekend of Halloween fun for all. The Courthouse lawn is the center of activities, including thousands of decorated pumpkins on display, there are also art and craft shows, a house walk, a pie eating contest, a carnival, a fun fair, a race, and other events.

For more information visit sycamorepumpkinfestival.com.