The latest local news, weather and high school sports in and around Columbia and Jefferson City

HARTSBURG, MO. -- Just over 100 people live in the town but Saturday it was filled with thousands for the Hartsburg Pumpkin Festival.

The annual festival started in 1991 and has only grown since.

Vendors with arts and crafts, music, and Halloween decorations lined the streets.

But, it seemed that the most popular items at the pumpkin festival were of course the pumpkins.

For many people going to the Hartsburg pumpkin festival is a tradition.

But for one woman and her family this was their first time to the festival.

“There are a lot of people here, online we read there were 108 people that live here usually and last year I think it said 43,000 came out,” festival visitor Marla Mason said.  “That was pretty impressive to us; we couldn't imagine how that many people would come to a town this size."

The smell of funnel cakes, corn dogs, and everything deep fried filled the air and stomachs.

The festival features countless family activities, such as, pumpkin carving, pumpkin painting, apple butter making, music, games, a straw maze, and a corn maze.

If you didn't get a chance to get the perfect pumpkin Saturday, the festival continues all day Sunday.