It’s the Great Pumpkin 60th Anniversary Event
Saturday, October 17, 2026
1:00–5:00 pm
Cost: Included with Museum admission. Free for Members!
Celebrate the 60th anniversary of the classic Peanuts Halloween special, It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown, with special guests, live music, crafts, and costume and mustache contests. At 2:00 pm, hear behind-the-scenes stories about the making of the animated film and a fun analysis of Vince Guaraldi’s first spooky Peanuts score from Jason Mendelson and Sean Mendelson of Lee Mendelson Film Productions. Also, watch the special on the Museum’s big screen, enjoy live music performed by Sixth Station Piano Trio, and explore hands-on crafts.
Costume Contests: Come dressed in a Peanuts-themed costume or sporting your best Vince Guaraldi and Bill Melendez mustache to win prizes in costume and mustache contests starting at 3:30 pm. See contest categories and rules below, or click here.
Great Pumpkin Costume Contest Categories and Rules
Categories
All Ages:
- Best Group Costume (2 or more people)
Youth (18 and under):
- Most It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown-Inspired Costume
- Charlie Browniest Costume
- Most Original Costume
Adults (19 and up):
- Most It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown-Inspired Costume
- Charlie Browniest Costume
- Most Original Costume
Rules
- All costumes must be Peanuts-inspired.
- All costumes must be family-friendly and PG rated. “No Costume” is not a costume. “Paint” is not a costume. No intentional or unintentional wardrobe malfunctions allowed. Please make sure your costume is sturdily constructed; this includes proper undergarments. If your costume is deemed to be too revealing or offensive, you will be asked to cover up or change.
- Wheels of any kind, including roller blades, roller skates, and skateboards, are not allowed in the Museum.
- The Schulz Museum cannot be responsible for damage incurred to your costume during the event.
- The Schulz Museum reserves the right to alter rules or policies to protect public safety or ensure a safe and successful convention.
- Each contestant is only eligible to win one individual category, including group costumes.
- Contestants are welcome to enter as many categories as they wish, knowing that they are only eligible to win one individual category.
- For the purposes of this contest, a group or family will be considered 2 or more individuals.
- No animals will be permitted in the costume contest. Assistance animals are, of course, allowed to accompany a contestant, but in the interest of fair play, will not be considered as part of the contestant’s costume. This also bars an animal from being considered as part of a group or family costume.
- All Museum rules must be adhered to (no food or drink, no flash photography, no tripod filming equipment, etc.).
- All contestants must be present at 3:30 pm to compete and/or win.
- All decisions of the judges and organizers are final. All contestants must adhere to inclusive sportsmanship and can be asked to leave the competition at any time for unsportsmanlike conduct by the judges or Museum leadership.
- Participants found to be in violation of these rules will be subject to removal from the Museum.
Mustache Contest Categories and Rules
Categories
- Most Guaraldi Mustache
- Most Melendez Mustache
- Most Creative Mustache
Rules
- Mustaches do not need to be naturally grown. Artificial facial hair will be permitted in all categories.
- Contestants may only enter one contest category.
- Beards will not be taken into consideration. If a mustache extends into other facial hair, the cutoff point will be approximately a finger’s width beyond the corner of the mouth.
- Grooming aids (oils, balms, and other products without hold) as well as styling aids (pomades, waxes, and other products with hold) will be permitted in all categories.
- All contestants must be present at 3:30 pm to compete and/or win.
- All decisions of the judges and organizers are final. All contestants must adhere to inclusive sportsmanship and can be asked to leave the competition at any time for unsportsmanlike conduct by the judges or Museum leadership.
- Participants found to be in violation of these rules will be subject to removal from the Museum.
