MANSFIELD — Before thousands of visitors walk along the glowing pumpkin path at Kingwood Center Gardens, community members gather to help create one of the gardens’ most anticipated fall attractions.
Kingwood Center Gardens offered free admission Thursday and Friday to volunteers willing to stop by and carve a pumpkin.
The annual community carving days serve as the opening act for The Great Pumpkin Glow. School groups, families, workplace teams and other community members carved approximately 1,500 pumpkins for the seasonal event.
All photos by Brooke Badgley. Story continues below.
After the carving, the pumpkins will be arranged along a path throughout the gardens, where visitors can admire the creative designs during the Great Pumpkin Glow.
Each pumpkin may start as an individual creation, but together the jack-o’-lanterns become a collective display shaped by the community.
This year’s Great Pumpkin Glow is Oct. 16 through 18 from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m.
“This event could not happen without (community carvers), and we hope they have fun and enjoy donating their time and talents,” said Brenda Nelson, director of development and marketing at Kingwood Center Gardens.
Nelson said pumpkin carving at Kingwood has become a yearly tradition for many families. People look forward to returning after carving to see their creations displayed along the pumpkin path.
“The jack-o’-lanterns are the feature, and we are always amazed and appreciative of all those joining us in putting on Pumpkin Glow and the designs they carve,” Nelson said.
One parent attending the event said their family had participated the previous year with homeschooling friends and returned for another opportunity to enjoy the gardens and make memories together.
Although the family has lived in the area for only about three years, the event had already become a familiar fall activity.
Community carving allows people of different ages and skill levels to contribute, whether they arrive with a detailed design in mind or figure out their creation as they go.
Children at the event worked on a variety of designs, with some creating recognizable characters and others developing their own ideas. One child described working on a pig, while other participants discussed designs such as cats, owls and different fun and scary faces.
Organizing the Great Pumpkin Glow takes considerable preparation from Kingwood staff and volunteers. Staff transition from summer displays to fall decorations, changing seasonal plant material and installing décor throughout the grounds.
The pumpkins come from several sources, including private growers and farmers. Meijer also donates pumpkins.
Those donations and other community sponsorships help make the event possible while reducing costs for Kingwood, allowing the organization to direct more revenue toward its mission and ongoing operations.
Community involvement extends beyond the people donating and carving pumpkins. Community partners also provide activities and food trucks to give visitors additional options during their visit.
Nelson said the enthusiastic response from the community continues to stand out.
“Pumpkin Glow guests are continually impressed that our community so enthusiastically supports this Kingwood’s event,” she said.
Once the Great Pumpkin Glow begins, the carved jack-o’-lanterns become part of a broader fall experience throughout Kingwood Center Gardens. Visitors can enjoy seasonal decorations, lighting displays and returning attractions, including Scarecrow Row and Singing Pumpkins, along with a selection of food trucks.
“The fall décor throughout the gardens is stunning and the lighting features always offer something new,” Nelson said.
Executive Director Josh Steffen described the Glow as a particularly meaningful time for staff because it brings employees from different areas of Kingwood together to make the experience possible.
“It really is all hands on deck,” Steffen said.
Steffean also described the event as a personal favorite, explaining that seeing visitors arrive in costume and enjoy the experience makes the extensive preparation worthwhile.
For Nelson, the community’s participation is central to the event’s success. Families contribute their time and creativity, businesses and growers help supply resources and staff members work behind the scenes to turn the individual pumpkins into a coordinated display.
Nelson said the event is nearly sold out every night, with more than 6,000 guests in total.
Ultimately, Kingwood staff hopes visitors leave smiling after enjoying an evening celebrating fall and spending time with family and friends.
As dusk settles over Kingwood Center Gardens, approximately 1,500 carved pumpkins will help transform the grounds into a glowing fall display, each one reflecting the time and creativity of the community members who carved it.
When visitors follow the illuminated pumpkin path, they will see more than a seasonal attraction — they will see the collective effort of the families, volunteers and local partners who help bring The Great Pumpkin Glow to life.
