Operation Pumpkin’s debut year promises to make a big splash in Hamilton’s downtown and bring back a piece of the city’s history.

The brainchild of pumpkin grower John Snyder, proceeds from the event benefit the local YMCA, Camp Campbell Gard and the Butler County Historic Courthouse.

Organizers collected thousands of pumpkins Thursday that had been decorated by fourth-graders throughout Hamilton’s public and private schools.

“We left it up to them on how they were decorated,” Snyder said. The pumpkins will serve as decoration for the heart of the festival in front of the historic courthouse.

Throughout the three-day event, pumpkins will be the star, but family entertainment will be the focus.

From a 5K run to wine and beer gardens to food and art vendors, there will be no shortage of activities.

The Great Miami River will provide the venue for two of the weekend’s most lively activities. Visitors will have the opportunity to launch pumpkins through the air from trebuchets into a floating target in the river. On Sunday, teams will brave the river to race in carved out giant pumpkins.

Snyder said fellow pumpkin growers from the south and eastern sides of the country will also bring their over-sized crop for a weigh-off beginning at 5 p.m. today.

The festival marries Snyder’s love of pumpkin growing and his wish to revive the city’s former Halloween-based street fair the ended in the 1970s.

“We have brought it back with a twist,” Snyder said.