Great Delaware Pumpkin Carve Festival rolls in Oct. 26-27

The Great Delaware Pumpkin Carve Festival is an all-weather Halloween classic that will take place in the Quillen Arena at the Delaware State Fairgrounds. Families can come check out the Pumpkin Trail of 50 amazingly carved pumpkins, each weighing from 100 to 300 pounds. Pumpkins will be carved by community members of various experience levels, from beginners to seasoned pros.

The pumpkin-carving competition will open the festival at 4 p.m., Friday, Oct. 26, when the 50 enrolled carvers and their teams meet their assigned pumpkins for the first time and begin carving under the watchful eye of festival spectators. Festival patrons can also participate in hayrides, purchase seasonal beer and wine drinks, enjoy kids’ activities including miniature pumpkin decorating, and much more.

The festival will continue from 3 to 9 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 25, when kids and adults are encouraged to come wearing their Halloween costumes for a competition. Patrick Cabry, an artist and professional pumpkin carver, will be on hand to demonstrate carving tips and tricks for the public. The 50 carved pumpkins will be creatively illuminated and displayed on hay bales in a Halloween-themed setting. Saturday's events will include the costume competition, kids' activities, hayrides, food vendors, beer and wine sales, Centre Ice Rink activities including the new bumper cars on ice rides, and free public skating, trick-or-treating and a walk-through of the decorated campsites.

A variety of food trucks and foods will be available at the event both days. Kids’ activities are included with gate admission. Delaware By Hand artists and crafters will have booths where visitors will be able to browse and purchase local, handmade items including jewelry, woodwork, cards, stationery, prints, paintings and more. 

For more information go to www.delawarepumpkincarve.com.