Carving pumpkins is a fun Halloween tradition. Kids and adults of all ages enjoy carving Jack O’Lanterns so they will grow brightly on Halloween night. A Halloween pumpkin carving party, with family or friends, is almost as much fun as Halloween night. The party almost always includes hot, crisp pumpkin seeds, fresh from the oven.
Preparation and Cleaning (inside and out) – Do this before the carving party. Most kids do not enjoy sticking their hands into a slimy pumpkin to clean it out.
Pumpkin Carving – including pumpkin carving patterns and stencils
4 the Record Just how fast can you carve a pumpkin?
Carving patterns and stencils – the biggest collection of patterns and stencils anywhere!
Pumpkin Party Games – for kids and adults
Pumpkin Carving History – The practice of carving them comes from ancient Celtic (Irish) traditions. At the time, they didn’t have pumpkins, are native to North America. So, they carved Turnips and Rutabagas. About carving turnips for Halloween.
Carving Jack O’Lanterns is not just for Halloween. There’s a growing trend to carve and decorate pumpkins for Thanksgiving, too. Fall-themed stencils are used at Thanksgiving.
For the record: Just so you can show your Pumpkin and Jack O Lantern expertise…….. A pumpkin is a beautiful round, orange fruit that comes from the garden. A Jack O Lantern is a pumpkin that has been carved.
When selecting pumpkins for carving, lighter colored ones carve easier, as they are softer. The downside is they do not last as long.
Pick pumpkins with a nice stem, and a carvable face. The unique shape of each stem gives your Jack O Lantern character.
Clean the pumpkins off, by washing them off with plain water and a sponge. Allow to dry.
Keep your pumpkins outside, or in a cool place, until you are ready to carve them.
Cut open the top of the pumpkin (the “lid”) and clean out the inside seeds and guts (humorously called “Pumpkin Brains”). Be careful not to pull hard on the stem, as it breaks easily.
Tip: When cleaning the inside of your Jack O’Lantern, scrape the inside wall to an inch thick. This makes carving a lot easier.
Set the seeds aside for cooking pumpkin seed snacks or for saving seeds to plant next year.
Here are some simple tips which will help to make your pumpkin carving event a safe one:
Do not let a young child use a knife….ever.
Always point knives away from you.
Keep your free hand away from the direction of the knife.
Use slicing motions, and never force the knife.
When using candles to light your Jack O’Lantern, do not leave it unattended. For indoor lighting, we recommend battery operated lights for safety.
Use an ice-cream scoop to clean out your pumpkins, instead of bending your kitchen spoons.
Select carving patterns or stencils that fits your age and expertise level.
For a unique jack-O’Lantern, add a little glow paint, or fake blood.
Insert a bowl into a carved pumpkin and add dry ice and warm water to create an extra spooky, smoke filled jack-o’-lantern.
Use an ice-cream scoop to clean out your pumpkins, instead of bending your kitchen spoons.
Select carving patterns or stencils that fits your age and expertise level.
For a unique jack-O’Lantern, add a little glow paint, or fake blood.
Insert a bowl into a carved pumpkin and add dry ice and warm water to create an extra spooky, smoke filled jack-o’-lantern.
Apply a light coating of petroleum jelly on the cuts. It will seal the wound and the pumpkin will last longer. After carving, place the pumpkin in a cool, dark place. It will spoil quickly, if left at room temperature, and will attract fruit flies.
Did you know? You can often revive shriveled Jack O Lantern, by soaking them in a bucket of water.
