The second annual event will light up the night October 20 – 23
The Gardens on Spring Creek (The Gardens) will host Pumpkins on Parade, presented by Mountain Valley Bank, October 20 – 23 from 6 – 9 p.m. nightly.
This celebration of Halloween and the harvest will feature The Gardens’ third annual community carved pumpkin contest, hundreds of pumpkins and gourds arranged in artistic displays, and a full bar. The event will also feature festive, kid-friendly games such as pumpkin bowling each night and entertainment by TimFoolery the Magician and the Amy and the Good Little Witches. Candy-free prizes will be awarded to games participants.
Pumpkins on Parade, like its predecessor, Halloween Enchanted Gardens, is part of the Teal Pumpkin Project, a movement to raise awareness of food allergies and to create a safer, more inclusive Halloween for all trick or treaters. The Gardens has hosted a candy-free Halloween celebration for more than a decade.
“For kids with food allergies, Halloween is not always fun,” said Ashley Krueger, Education Coordinator for the Gardens on Spring Creek. “They often can’t engage in a way that feels safe – like reaching their hand into a bucket of candy – without worrying about cross contamination or peanut oil being on the outside of a wrapper. Creating a safe space for children to explore is a critical part of what we do at The Gardens, and this event is an example of our commitment to our community.”
Carved Pumpkin Contest Details All ages and skill levels are welcome to enter the contest and compete in a variety of categories. There is no entry fee – participants must only provide their own pumpkin.
Additionally, participants will receive a 50 percent discount on their Pumpkins on Parade ticket.
The contest will be divided into three age groups (youth: 11 and under, teen: 12 – 17 and adult: 18+) and contest categories for each age group will be:
- Funniest
- Best Bird-Themed Carving
- Best Botanical Carving
Participants are asked to visit our website for details about the discount, contest rules and the registration process.
Tickets Prices:Tickets are $10 for adults and children 12+, while tickets for children 5 – 11 are $5. Children aged four and under are free. Certain dates and times are expected to sell out, so the public is encouraged to purchase their tickets online in advance at fcgov.com/gardens/pumpkins. Tickets will be for sale on-site during the event based on availability.
Tickets cannot be purchased over the phone.