The concept of a pumpkin party is simple: indulge in all things pumpkin. Buy pumpkin beer.
Organize a potluck full of pumpkin pickings. Get guests to BYOP (bring your own pumpkin) for carving.
The actual carving of the pumpkin ... not so simple.
It’s goopy. It’s somewhat labor intensive. It’s not easy for non-artsy types.
But it is possible to prettify a gigantic orange gourd (or berry, if we’re getting real specific). No, not with pretty painting or glitter tricks. Here’s some pro advice for anyone wanting to carve a good old-fashioned jack-o-lantern.
Adapted from PracticallyFunctional.com:
Picking: Go for a smooth, clean, solid surface. Feel around for soft spots and bruises, which you want to avoid. Take into account that a skinny carving pattern won’t look quite right on a round and large pumpkin.
Soaking: The night before you carve, use a scrub to remove excess dirt and let your pumpkin sit in a bucket of water overnight or about 8 hours. Soaking helps preserve the pumpkin for longer, but you may need to flip halfway through the night because pumpkins float. Dry before cutting.
Cleaning: If you don’t want pumpkin pulp hanging from the rafters next Halloween, grab a ream of trash bags and a few paper towel rolls. If you want to be Martha Stewart, designate a communal bowl or two where guests can place pumpkin seeds that you can roast while guests carve. (300 degrees for 45 minutes with a brush of butter.)
Cutting: The first cut you’ll make will take off the stem. Use a larger knife or carving saw to cut a circle around the stem, angling the saw toward the end so the top doesn’t fall into the pumpkin but catches on the blade.
Patterning: Hit up Pinterest to find the perfect pattern or pick up a DIY kit from your local Target or Walmart. Be sure to center the pattern. Secure the pattern to the pumpkin with tape. Basic Scotch tape should do the trick.
Carving: Start slow, with a small knife, going over the tinier or trickier angles first. Remember that you don’t have to carve along the lines perfectly. Sometimes carving into the parts to be cut out makes it easier to reach other cut lines. Remove cut-out pieces as they fall out or in small chunks.
Lubricating: That’s right. Pumpkins dry out or mold around the edges that are cut, so lubing the cut-out parts, at least, the entire inside if you're real hardcore, is ideal. Wipe off all the extra goop on the inside and the outside, and then lube things up with a nice seal of Vaseline or other petroleum jelly. Thinner cut-outs dry out faster and might need an extra layer.
Lighting: if you don’t have a flat surface for your candle to rest on, scrape one out now. If your pumpkin’s got some lumping that doesn’t permit perfect flatness, secure a candle in place by straightening out a paper clip and sticking it through the center of the candle into the bottom of the pumpkin. Use long matches or lighters to light the candle.
Carve for a cause (and prizes): Pick up a pumpkin and a pint at The Old Monk’s annual pumpkin carving event. Carving events run until October 31. The Idle Rich and Blackfriar Pubs will hold additional carving times from 3-10 p.m. on October 29. Sign up in advance and bring $10 for admission.
The pubs match every dollar they make and give all proceeds to the North Texas Food Bank. Last year they raised $17,600. All willing carvers will have picture of their pumpkins posted to Facebook. The pumpkins with the most likes will win $50 gift cards to Idle Rich and Blackfriar. Old Monk will give out $25, $50, and $75 gift cards to the pumpkins with the most votes.
Through Oct. 31: Pumpkin Carving at the Old Monk
Oct. 29: Pumpkin Carving Party at Idle Rich Pub
Oct. 29: Pumpkin Carving Party at Blackfriar Pub
More pumpkin carving events:
