Whether trick-or-treating or doing a fun activity with friends, Halloween could also be spent safely pumpkin carving. No matter the size, the techniques will apply to all pumpkins. Usually, a place to start would be a local grocery store, like Safeway.
“Start with a small pumpkin because they’re easier to handle. Once you’re more comfortable, you can move on to bigger ones. It’s also helpful to have multiple people working on the same pumpkin—it’s much easier! And definitely sketch out your design first; it makes carving a lot simpler,” said Ritvi Mudalagi (‘27).
Pumpkin carving can be tricky because the tools are sharp, and pumpkins are tough and slippery to cut. It takes careful work to make your design look just right. Be sure to follow the sketch that you made too.
“It was challenging to get the carving tool all the way into the pumpkin. Pumpkins are really hard, so it took a lot of strength. I had a friend help push it in, which made it easier. Having someone with you definitely helps,” said Anya Kashiramka (‘26).
Carving tends to be even more fun when you get creative with drawing your own designs—it lets you make a pumpkin that’s totally unique! You can start by drawing different designs right onto the pumpkin, making it easier to carve out unique shapes and patterns.
“My favorite design idea is probably, something funny, I suppose, or something really cool like a dragon or some intricate carving,” said Cara Li (‘27).
