A few years ago, I started looking for ways my family could do fun holiday traditions, but not in our tiny house. I don’t want to cheat my kids out of holiday traditions like pumpkin carving, egg dying and Christmas cookie making. I just don’t really have the space for the mess. So we set out to find places to do these things together as a family. The following is a list of places to carve pumpkins in the Twin Cities that families can attend together and then leave the mess behind. When we have attended these events pumpkins and all tools – blade, x-acto knife, scraper, spoon, etc. – have all been provided. We just needed to show up in clothes that could get messy.
The downside of carving elsewhere is that you don’t generally get to keep the insides of the pumpkin, so if you want something like pumpkin pie or pumpkin soup, you may need to buy some canned pumpkin for your recipes. However, if you ask, they might even let you take home a baggy of pumpkin seeds to roast later.
2023 Opportunities to Decorate or Carve Pumpkins
We’ll have more events as the various park systems start announcing dates in August and September.
Find & Decorate Mini Pumpkins at Woodbury’s Halloween Hoopla
Ojibway Park, 2695 Ojibway Dr, Woodbury, MN 55125; (651) 714-3583
When: 2023 TBA (October 15, 2022; 3-5pm.)
Cost: $12/child (Registration Required for Activity #550913-02).
Ages: 2-12 with adult.
If a mini pumpkin is all you need and you would like to mix up your pumpkin decorating with other Halloween family fun, then sign up for Halloween Hoopla, where kids can also trick-or-treat for candy, make crafts, play games and pose in a photo booth.
Harvest to Halloween at the Barn
Riley Lake Park, 9180 Riley Lake Road, Eden Prairie, Minnesota 55344; 952-949-8333
When: 2023 TBA (Saturday, October 15, 2022;⋅2:00 – 5:00pm)
Cost: Free
Ages: All
More details for this year’s event are coming, but this Halloween celebration has included pumpkin decorating among other seasonal family activities in the past.
Help Springbrook Nature Center carve pumpkins for Pumpkin Night in the Park
Springbrook Nature Center, 100 85th Ave NW, Fridley, MN 55432; 763-572-3588
When: Sign up for various dates in October before the 21st.
Cost: FREE Volunteer Event.
Ages: No ages specified, but this may be best to do with bigger kids
Springbrook plans to have 1000 jack-o-lanterns at its annual Pumpkin Night in the Park on October 22nd and they need help carving. Sign up with a group or as a family for this fun event. Each time slot has room for 30 carvers. This could be a fun volunteer event for teens/tweens.
Pumpkins & Power Tools
When: 2023 Dates & Locations TBA
Cost: FREE.
Ages: Family-Friendly, but there will be power tools.
Because sometimes a kitchen knife won’t do it and you need a little drill power! The Minnesota Tool Library is planning its annual Pumpkins & Power Tools event at Lupulin Brewing in Big Lake this year. That is all I have for information thus far. Past events have been family-friendly and FREE and include the use of MTL’s tools – drills, drill bits, linoleum cutters, awl, etc. Proceeds from your food and beverage purchases support the mission of the tool library.
Paint Pumpkins at Color Me Mine
3324 Promenade Avenue, Suite 100, Eagan, MN 55121; 651-454-4099
12155 Elm Creek Blvd., Maple Grove MN 55369; 763-420-0005
9140 Hudson Rd F511, Woodbury, MN 55125; 651-717-5663
When: Call the location nearest you for studio times.
Cost: Prices vary by piece.
Ages: All
Choose from a selection of pumpkin pottery pieces to design your way. The studio will fire your creation for lasting home decor to share every year.
Keep Checking Back!
We will add more opportunities for pumpkin gutting as they are shared with us. We expect to see many last minute additions from pumpkin farms, farmers markets and other smaller venues.
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thank you for the information
We’re glad you found it useful, Zidane. Did you find a place to take the kids to make jack-o-lanterns?