As the weather cools and you start looking for your Halloween costume, you and your loved ones engage in beloved fall activities together. One of these activities is jack-o-lantern carving. If you’re preparing for a jack-o-lantern carving party with your friends or little ones, you’ll want to have some design ideas ready to go. Here are some of our best ideas on what to turn your local pumpkin into!
How to Prepare a Pumpkin as a Jack-o-Lantern
Before you can dive into figuring out what design you want for your jack-o-lantern, you first need to prepare your pumpkin! In order to prep your pumpkin for carving fun, there are a few simple steps you have to take:
- Get Your Supplies: You’ll need some tools before you begin. First, gather a towel or paper to put underneath your pumpkins. Next, grab a knife, a large spoon, and a bowl. If you have little ones, you may want to invest in kid-safe carving knives. Finally, find a marker to sketch out your design and a candle to place inside!
- Cut a Circle around the Stem: You’ll want to make the hole large enough to be able to get the spoon inside easily, but small enough that you keep the structure of the pumpkin intact. Cutting at a 45-degree angle will allow you to put the stem back on the pumpkin once your carving design is complete!
- Scoop out the Seeds and Pulp: Use the spoon to get as much of the seeds and pulp out as you can, and put the contents in the bowl. You can use whatever you scoop out for snacks or even body care!
- Sketch Your Design and Get Carving: Whatever design you decide on, it’s best to sketch it first before you carve. Once your sketch is done, you can get carving and place a candle inside to light it up!
5 Fun Jack-o-Lantern Ideas
Want something unique for your jack-o-lantern this season? Something that will wow your neighbors and guests? Here are some unique ideas for your jack-o-lantern this Halloween season!
1. Go Gators!
As a Gainesville local business, we love supporting our football team here at the University of Florida! If you want to show some Gainesville pride, you can try your hand at carving the Florida Gators logo on your pumpkin. Want to add a splash of (pumpkin) orange and blue? Use paints to fill in your design!
2. Boo!
Need a simple design but still want to play into the spooky season? If so, a Boo! jack-o-lantern is the perfect design to get the job done. Feel free to add as much character as you want to the letters—use eyes for the O’s or add a star to the exclamation point. This simple yet fun design has tons of options to make it wholly unique to your style!
3. Pet-o-Lantern
Do you have a beloved pet at home? Or are you just a cat or dog lover? If so, turn your jack-o-lantern into a pet-o-lantern! Whether you’re inspired by your own furry friends or go with a simpler cat or dog design, this idea adds a touch of cuteness to your Halloween decor.
4. The Monster Mash
Love the spooky season but want something more than the traditional jack-o-lantern? Why not try your hand at carving another classic monster this season! From ghosts to vampires to Frankenstein’s monster, there are plenty of options for a monster-themed jack-o-lantern. If family or friends are joining you during this carving session, you could have a full monster mash!
5. Emojis 🎃👻😆
Need a simple yet fun face for your jack-o-lantern? There are plenty of options to choose from when you use emojis as your inspiration—whether you decide to do one of the many funny faces or even the ghost emoji to keep in the season! With so many options, you may want to buy several local pumpkins to have a collection of emoji jack-o-lanterns!
Find the Perfect Local Pumpkins for Jack-o-Lanterns at Ward’s!
Before you can decide on the perfect design for your jack-o-lantern this Halloween, you first have to find the perfect pumpkin! At Ward’s, we carry a variety of local pumpkins for both eating and display. Whether you want big and smooth or small and lumpy, you can find your next jack-o-lantern at Ward’s Supermarket!
