From a simple carved face to a decked out design, pumpkin carving is a tradition among many families and teens during the Halloween season. Due to the circumstances of 2020, pumpkin carving is becoming a more important part of this season since it it Covid-19 safe and unlike haunted houses and pumpkin patches no one can prevent one from carving with their family. Regardless of whether one is at a beginner, an intermediate, or an advanced level, carving a pumpkin does not take an artist to make it an enjoyable experience for everyone.

 “I like pumpkin carving because it is a creative outlet, but I hate getting all of the seeds out of the pumpkin. It can get very messy,” Nina Velasco, senior, said.

For those who lack time or experience, there are many alternatives to pumpkin carving. For example, painting a pumpkin can be just as fun and decorative as carving one, but with less of a mess and no use for sharp tools. Rather than trying to glue a pumpkin back together if a mistake is made, this method allows one to simply paint over it. An additional idea is to attach props to the pumpkin. Props are decorations that can make the pumpkin more life-like, such as a crown or a hat. Some can be made at home by printing out simple designs and applying them to the top of the pumpkin with either tape or toothpicks.

“I love pumpkin carving. My dad and I usually get humongous pumpkins. I look up designs on Pinterest and start carving it out. Then, after Halloween, we stick fireworks in them and watch them explode,” Madison Mendenhall, junior, said. 

For traditional style pumpkin carvings, there are plenty of intermediate-level strategies to use that will amaze any trick-or-treater this year. One method is to use an online carving template. These come with easy sets of directions to tape the printed outline on the pumpkin and carve around the lines. This will leave a complex design, which brings both fun and creativity, but with the confirmation of a clean looking pumpkin. Another way to get results is by finding tutorials on YouTube. The internet has created a new realm of carving possibilities for pumpkin carving. 

“I learned to carve [pumpkins] from my dad who makes a big pumpkin some years. Also, I watch tutorials, from the internet and I learn from my common interests,” Alicia Isenberg, sophomore, said. 

For the most state-of-the-art pumpkins, many more advanced carving experts will be creating their own pumpkin layouts. When creating a layout, the possibilities can be endless. They can be detailed, realistic, cartoony, or even terrifying. 

“It is really cool how people turn pumpkin carving into like a sport and that they were able to carve such insane sculpture like pumpkins out of it,” Anthony Berberi, senior said. 

Whether traditional or for the first time, carving pumpkins is a festivity that can be enjoyed by all. Halloween is only two weeks away so do not delay in picking the perfect pumpkin to decorate.