It’s found in pies on Thanksgiving, in Charlie Brown cartoons and has served as an occasional cranium and projectile for the Headless Horseman.

Yeah, we’re talking about pumpkins. Those large, orange earth-grown orbs that always seem to show up everywhere this time of year. And there will be plenty of them, along with a ton of family-friendly activities, at the Pony Express Pumpkinfest, which takes place tonight, Oct. 11 and 12 across from the Pony Express National Museum at Ninth and Penn streets.

The highlight of Pumpkinfest, now in its 13th year, will once again be the lighting of Pumpkin Mountain, comprised of more than 1,000 pumpkins, at 8 p.m. tonight. Some are carved by local school children. Others are painted by hand by kids at area churches. Then there are more than 50 sponsorship pumpkins that Pumpkin Mountain co-chairs Rene McCrary, Stacey Gray and other volunteers carve by hand. While McCrary says the lighting of the very large Pumpkin Mountain is a festival highlight, it’s not the only reason to come.

“It’s just the start. It’s a start to a wonderful weekend,” she says.

So what else is there to check out? On three stages and throughout the festival grounds, you can see the magic of B.J. Talley, the balloon art of Up, Up and Away featuring John, the Balloon Man or a couple of string features with Fiddlers 3 and the Suzuki Violin Students. There’s a costume parade at 11 a.m. Oct. 11, and to get crucial lessons on roping and yodeling for these trying times, there will be performances by an expert on both in Randy Erwin.

There also will be live music for kids and adults. The adults can check out the country rock of True North on Saturday evening. And for the children, they’ll get a Kansas City kids’ musician with an interesting name.

“We are so lucky to have Mr. Stinky Feet,” says Marcy Colescott, Pumpkinfest chairwoman.

Considering that the festival takes place right across from the Pony Express National Museum, it shouldn’t be much of a surprise that festival organizers wanted to feature education and history along with entertainment.

Kids can learn about history by listening to storyteller Jim 2 Crows, while archeologist Larry Kinsella will help show people how to identify arrowheads and artifacts, flint knapping and making axes and building a fire (which could come in handy if you can’t pay your heating bill). For kids who want a hands-on educational experience, Hy-Vee is sponsoring a “Mad Science” tent on Saturday afternoon. Here, kids can learn how to make slime and silly putty and take it home with them.

“While they’re learning, they’re also having fun,” Colescott says.

Pumpkin Mountain will not be the only thing that gets lit up this weekend.

The 1955 Pony Express Motel sign, originally from the former hotel on the northeast of the intersection of Belt Highway and Frederick Ave., has been revamped and donated to the Pony Express National Museum. At 7:30 p.m. Oct. 11, the sign will be lit up for festival-goers to see. The sign is 40 feet high and more than 24 feet wide, or as Colescott puts it:

“It’s pretty darn big,” she says. “You’ll be able to see it from the Interstate.”

If this wasn’t enough, there will be historic re-enactments in the Pony Express National Museum, pony rides, a carnival, petting zoo, craft tents, face painting, Moon Bounce and plenty of food vendors. Does it seem like there’s a lot to do? That’s the idea, according to Cindy Daffron, director of development for the Pony Express National Museum.

“That’s kind of really a new venue for us to have that many things going on,” Daffron says. “I think it’s much more taking it to the next level.”

Festival hours are 5 to 9 p.m. today, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday. For more information, visit www.ponyexpress.org.

THE PUMPKIN PLAN

Pumpkinfest, located across from the Pony Express National Museum, will take place from 5 to 9 p.m. tonight, noon to 9:30 p.m. Oct. 11 and noon to 5 p.m. Oct. 12. The festival is free and open to the public.

Tonight

Pumpkin Stage

6 p.m. Magician B.J. Talley

6:30 p.m. Fiddlers 3

7 p.m. Storyteller Will Stuck

Roving Entertainment

5 to 7 p.m. Up, Up and Away’s John, the Balloon Man

In Front of Museum

8 p.m. Lighting of Pumpkin Mountain

Saturday, Oct. 11

11 a.m. Costume Parade, sponsored by Hy-Vee

Pumpkin Stage

11:30 a.m. Parade Awards

noon Mr. Stinky Feet

12:30 p.m. Storyteller Will Stuck

1 p.m. Mr. Stinky Feet

1:30 p.m. Magician B.J. Talley

2 p.m. Storyteller Jim 2 Crows

2:30 p.m. Mr. Stinky Feet

3 p.m. Fiddlers 3

4 p.m. Archeologist Larry Kinsella

4:30 p.m. Storyteller Will Stuck

5 p.m. Magician B.J. Talley

6 p.m. True North

7:30 p.m. Lighting of the Pony Express Motel sign

8 p.m. True North

Festival Grounds

noon to 5 p.m. Hy-Vee presents “Mad Science” tent

Roving Entertainment

1 to 3 p.m. Up, Up and Away’s John, the Balloon Man

Train Stage

noon, 12:30, 1, 2, 2:30, 3, 4 and 4:30 p.m. Archeologist Larry Kinsella

Pony Stage

noon, 12:30, 1, 2, 2:30, 3 and 4:30 p.m. Storyteller Jim 2 Crows

Sunday, Oct. 12

Pumpkin Stage

noon Yodelin’ and Trick Ropin’ with Randy Erwin

12:30 p.m. Storyteller Will Stuck

1 p.m. Suzuki Violin Students

1:45 p.m. Magician B.J. Talley

2 p.m. Storyteller Jim 2 Crows

2:30 p.m. Dancing in Grace

3 p.m. Yodelin’ and Trick Ropin’ with Randy Erwin

3:30 p.m. Magician B.J. Talley

4 p.m. Storyteller Jim 2 Crows

4:30 p.m. Storyteller Will Stuck

Pony Express Museum

2 to 3:30 p.m. Live enactments

Roving Entertainment

1 to 3 p.m. Up, Up and Away’s John, the Balloon Man

3:30 to 5 p.m. Yodeler and trick roper Randy Erwin

Train Stage

noon, 12:30, 1, 2, 2:30, 3 and 4:30 p.m. Archeologist Larry Kinsella

Pony Stage

noon, 12:30, 1, 2:30, 3 and 4:30 p.m. Jim 2 Crows presents TIPI DAYS

Festival Grounds

noon to 5 p.m. Hy-Vee presents “Mad Science” tent