Start a Tradition Series: 10 Easy Tips for Hosting the Ultimate Pumpkin Carving Fall Party

1. Three weeks before the Halloween party or event, send out invitations via mail or text or email:

   • Let guests know if costumes are required

   • Plan Food and Drinks Menus

   • Choose & buy pumpkins that are medium-large. Too large of ones can be difficult to carve. If you wait too long, pumpkins get sold out! 

   • Go together as a family to pick out pumpkins for your fall carving party and start a tradition. 

The local pumpkin patch

2. Several days before party, buy inexpensive Trophies with First Place, Most Original, Scariest, Most Beautiful, etc. to be handed out at carving completion: 

   • The whole group will vote on who wins for each category!

     
     

Trophies for the costume contest.

3. Day before party, gather equipment, whatever you have on hand in your kitchen will work to cut and scoop out seeds:

   • Large kitchen spoons for scooping 

   • Small sharp saw-toothed knives 

   • Large Marks-A Lot pens for drawing on pumpkins for your template 

   • Potato peeler 

   • Melon baller

   • Ice-cream scoop 

   • Citrus peeler 

   • Oyster knife

   • Small sharp knife 

   • Larger knife for the stem.

Pumpkin carving equipment

4. Day before party:  

   • Decorate for party 

   • Prepare tables for carving-line with plastic sheeting or trash bags        

5. Day before party:

   • Prepare snacks, sandwiches, treats

   • Put pumpkins in entrance area for letting participants choose which one they want.

     

     Pumpkins ready for carving.

6. Day of party, provide guests ideas for desired theme for cutting pumpkins:

   • Templates or stencils to be printed off the computer or purchased.

   • Use big Marks A Lot Pens for drawing on pumpkins for cut-outs. 

   • Put large roll of paper towels on table 

   • Have large black plastic trash bags ready for the pumpkin guts. 

   • KEEP the pumpkin stem to put back on carved pumpkin! 

   • Tip: You can use pumpkin seeds and pumpkin innards to feed birds, animals, and for composting.

7. Day of party, have table for food, lay out treats, sandwiches, drinks, chips, candy.

   
   

   

   Halloween themed candy.

Karen's snacks laid out for guests.

8. Day of Party, have small clear votive candles for guests to put in carved pumpkins.

Karen's pumpkin candles.

9. Day of Party, after pumpkins are carved: 

   • Put lighted votive in each pumpkin

   • Turn lights off and take video AND still shots with each participant standing behind their pumpkin

   • Then take a shot of all participants with their pumpkins.

Pumpkins from Karen's Halloween party.

10. Party’s over, have yourself a scarry little drink!

Boo!