Highwood Pre-Pumpkin Fest meet with HGTV Producers

HIghwood Director of Public Works Jeff Ponsi showing how fast and efficiently he can drill thousands of pumpkins for the 2012 Pumpkin Festival in Highwood.  Watching next to him from left is Public Relations Ilyse Strongin Bombicino, Alderman Eric Falberg, and Producer of HGTV show Pumpkin Wars which will be doing a special on Highwood's festival going for a new World Record of most lit jack o'lanterns. | Mark Ukena~For Sun-Times Media

Director of Public Works Jeff Ponsi, shows how the drilled pumpkins have to keep their tops for the Guinness Book of Records most lit jack o'lanterns at once terms are. | Mark Ukena~For Sun-Times Media

Danny Downing, one of two producers of the HGTV show Pumpkin Wars that will be doing a special on Highwood's Pumpkin Festival and Guinness Book of records attempt, has a go at drilling a pumpkin himself. | Mark Ukena~For Sun-Times Media

Highwood Alderman and Chairman of Special Events, Eric Stalberg, explains to Valen Emmert, producer of an HGTV show, Pumpkin Wars, what exactly will be happening in order to accomplish their victory for the Guinness Book of Records win of most jack o'lanterns lit at once and what goes down at the Highwood Pumpkin Festival. | Mark Ukena~For Sun-Times Media

Director of Public Works, Jeff Ponsi (left) shows HGTV producer Danny Downing the Blue Prints for the construction of the 2012 Highwood Pumpkin Festival. | Mark Ukena~For Sun-Times Media

Valen Emmert, producer of the HGTV show Pumpkin Wars, drills some pumpkins for the 2012 HIghwood Pumpkin Festival. | Mark Ukena~For Sun-Times Media

Danny Downing and Valen Emmert, producers from the HGTV show Pumpkin Wars, brainstorm with Highwood Alderman and Chairman of Special Events, Eric Stalberg about the events and itinerary of the 2012 Pumpkin Festival. | Mark Ukena~For Sun-Times Media

Drilling a couple of pumpkins may get a little messy, but drilling thousands is another story, at this year's Pumpkin Festival, celebrated from October 18-20, 2012 in downtown Highwood. | Mark Ukena~For Sun-Times Media

Alderman and Chairman of Special Events Eric Stalberg, helps Public Relations Ilyse Strongin Bombicino go through all the banners of sponsors for this year's Pumpkin festival in downtown Highwood. | Mark Ukena~For Sun-Times Media

Truck loads of hay, corn stalks, and pumpkins are dropped off at the Public Works Building in Highwood preparing for this year's Pumpkin Festival which will be competing to keep their World record of most jack o'lanterns lit at one time. | Mark Ukena~For Sun-Times Media

From left is HGTV producers Danny Downing and Valen Emmert, Public Relations Ilyse Strongin Bombicino, and Highwood Alderman and Chairman of Special Events Eric Stalberg, going over the itinerary of this year's Pumpkin Festival that will be debuted on a show called Pumpkin Wars, which will be competing with another town for the Guiness Book of World Records, most jack o'lanterns lit at one time. | Mark Ukena~For Sun-Times Media