Great Delaware Pumpkin Carve Festival slated for Oct. 26-27

The Delaware State Fair and the Biggs Museum of American Art will partner for a new open-air event called The Great Delaware Pumpkin Carve Festival, set to take place in the Quillen Arena at the fairgrounds Friday and Saturday, Oct. 26 and 27.

Families can come check out a pumpkin trail of 50 amazingly carved pumpkins, each weighing from 150 to 300 pounds. The Biggs Museum and the Delaware State Fair are inviting creative pumpkin artists ranging from first-time carvers to seasoned pros to come and carve pumpkins provided, which may weigh up to 300 pounds. Pumpkin carvers can include individuals, families or group carving teams.

The festival will begin at 6 p.m., Friday evening, when the 50 enrolled carvers and their teams meet their assigned pumpkins for the first time and begin carving under the watchful eyes of festival spectators. Festival patrons can also participate in spooky walk-through haunted barns, hayrides, kids' activities including miniature pumpkin decorating, and much more. One haunted barn will be themed for young children, and the other will be a little more intense for teens and older patrons. Kids and adults are encouraged to wear their Halloween costumes.

The festival will continue into Saturday when the 50 carved pumpkins will be on display in a Halloween-themed holiday setting using hay bales and creative illumination.

"If you enjoy Halloween, The Great Delaware Pumpkin Carve Festival is guaranteed to be something special for families all across the peninsula and beyond. Mark your calendars for this not-to-be missed event that has something for everyone in the family," said Bill DiMondi, Delaware State Fair general manager. "There is nothing like this in Delaware, and we are really excited to host this fun-filled family weekend in partnership with our friends at the Biggs Museum."

"We cannot wait to see what sort of inventive designs local artists and community members produce for this exhibition," said Charles Guerin, Biggs Museum executive director. "Whether you're a seasoned artist or just love carving pumpkins, we invite you to participate in this exhibition – but don't wait too long; there are only 50 pumpkins available to carve!"

The Quillen Arena and the adjacent barns and grounds in Harrington will provide the perfect location for this all-weather event. Festival-related events beyond the pumpkin carving and related displays will include hayrides, a bonfire, kids' pumpkin-decorating activities, Delaware-made crafts for sale, fall-themed food and beverage choices, and two versions of haunted barns. The fair's Centre Ice Rink will be featuring spooky-themed ice bumper car rides. For those 21 and over, fall seasonal craft beers, wines and ciders will be served.

RV campers and their families can camp overnight and enjoy both days of the festival. Those who come prepared to decorate their campsites could walk away with one of several prizes rewarding the spookiest and most whimsical and creative decorating ideas.

Tickets are $7 to $12. For more information and to apply to be a carver, go to www.delawarepumpkincarve.com.