Imagine 5,000 pumpkins at one show. This photo provides an idea of what the Jack-o-Lantern Spectacular held annually in Providence, Rhode Island is like. Over the next seven days, I will feature pumpkins from the show as I do a count-down to Halloween.
Our son Tony and daughter-in-law Cammie had sent us photos last year of the pumpkin carving show in Providence, Rhode Island at the Roger Williams Park Zoo. And we had been impressed. It included some 5,000 carved pumpkins. They were everywhere— along the trails, out in small lakes, and up in trees. They ranged in size from small fellows that would easily fit into the palm of one hand up to gigantic guys that would require several grunting weight-lifters working together to pick up. And what a job of carving! While most were traditional, as those featured above, others were works of art.
This year, we were visiting Tony, Cammie and our grandsons at the time of the show and the kids were eager for us to go. They knew that we had hosted family pumpkin carving contests for over 20 years, that we loved to get up to our elbows in pumpkin seeds, and that we had a box full of carving tools. They also knew that I loved everything pumpkin: pumpkin pies, pumpkin scones, pumpkin muffins, pumpkin soup, pumpkin pancakes, pumpkin cookies— you name it!
There was no hesitation on our part and the show was everything we hoped for— and more. Over the next seven days, I will feature pumpkins from the show. It was definitely a Spectacular Spooktacular. Happy Halloween!
Laughing skeletons welcomed us to the show.
Pumpkins ranged from this spectacular Saber Toothed tiger…
To this more traditional carving.
The art-carved pumpkins were divided into themes starting with dinosaurs..
This winking, toothy character caught my attention…
As did this goofy skull.
My partners on the pumpkin path… Our son Tony, Peggy, and grandsons Cooper, Chris and Connor. Tony’s wife, Cammie, was visiting with her dad in South Carolina.
NEXT POST: We will journey off to Egypt and meet a scary mummy.
Wandering through Time and Place 
How cool! I never thought of shooting a pumpkin carving contest, but these photos are really good – and under difficult lighting conditions.
Thanks for sharing.
Thanks, Bill. Shooting pumpkins has always been a challenge, but the low-light capabilities of modern cameras has made a huge difference. I found the same thing taking night photos at Burning Man. I was certainly kept busy as we made our way through the 5,000 pumpkins. –Curt
These pumpkins are fantastic beyond belief. I just don’t understand how people can not only create an image but then carve into a vegetable. But I’m glad they do. What fun to be at this festival with your family. And you’re right, it’s one I would love!!!
Pumpkin carving has come a long ways from our childhood, Rusha. I certainly enjoyed the traditional pumpkins, but I was blow away by the art-carved pumpkins. –Curt
Some rather wonderful lanterns!
More than I have ever seen in one place, AC. –Curt
Pumpkins are great but the history of Halloween is very sick and disturbing and I find it hard to understand the celebration of evil practices. God bless all x
Hm, I find chocolate bunnies, twenty dollar roses and a fat, bearded man squeezing down my chimney more disturbing, but to each his/her own.
I agree with you.
And I agree that pumpkins are great!
Well they look great but here British versions lack any taste.
Do you mean “looks” taste or “damn this is some good pumpkin pie” taste?
I understand that there are cooking pumpkins and carving pumpkins, Lana. The latter supposedly don’t taste that great. –Curt
I do a story on the origins of halloween tomorrow, Lana. I found it interesting that the original purpose of the pumpkins (actually carved turnips and potatoes) was to scare away evil. –Curt
Turnips were to let demonic people know that a child sacrifice had already been undertaken at that home and to move along.
Ouch…
Spookylicious!
Good word! 🙂 –Curt
Curt and to the point.
🙂 Right.
The Pharonic one looks spectacular!
I was amazed at the skill involved, Suan, in creating the art-carved pumpkins. –Curt
I wish they did taste good but the innards are usually binned once the Halloween carvings are done.
Pumpkin seeds are good, Lana, but it has been a while since I have eaten any. –Curt
I do eat those 🙂
https://pacificparatrooper.files.wordpress.com/2015/10/1320044177.jpg?w=300&h=300
Neat, G. Thanks. –Curt
Halloween has become a big event here as well. Shops are full of all sorts of paraphernalia . I just hope the kids know what it is all about. Anyway, it will result in an orgy of sugar and sweets being consumed. I have my celery sticks ready all chilled in a nice stainless steel bucket.
Laughing, you might have a few tricks coming with celery, Gerard. –Curt
You never fail to provide amazing photography! Can’t wait to see more.
Thanks! Coming up… –Curt
Hmm.. 5,000? that’s a real show! I guess it’s pretty hard for you to decide which one is the winner, right? Happy Halloween to you too!
Don’t think they judge winners and losers. Now the contest my family was in for several years… that was serious. 🙂 –Curt
Haha, I bet you had a hard time trying to get one better than your neighbors. I remember myself participating few years ago in a similar contest at work.. serious work, no kidding!! 🙂
Serious work all in fun, Christie— the best kind! Thanks. 🙂 –Curt
I love Halloween, and I love jack-o-lanterns — and I love that tight, interlaced connection with All Hallow’s Eve and All Souls Day. Our commercialization has diluted the festival’s nature, and torn it from its roots, but the combination of those leering faces and cheerful, toothy grins gets it just right. I would have loved to have been there — but I’m certainly passing on the information to a friend who lives in Connecticut. It’s probably closer from her house to this event than it is from Houston to Dallas. (Actually, it’s half the distance; I just looked it up.)
One of the things that I quickly learned about New England is that nothing is very far from anything, Linda, a concept that is hard to imagine for us folks who have lived in places like Texas, Alaska and California. It took us all of an hour to drive up from where Tony and Cammie live in Central Connecticut to Providence. It takes us approximately 6 times that to drive down and visit our family in Sacramento, a trip we do so often that we look on as a commute.
The interweaving that takes place between myths and legends and our modern religions and customs has always fascinated me. How we both adopt and adapt.
Much of Halloween was lost to me between my candy gathering phase as a child and middle age. But when Peggy came into my life and we started our family pumpkin carving contests, it all came back. –Curt
Wow! I am marking my calendar to attend this in the future. It looks fantastic!
Definitely worth it! Certainly the most spectacular display of carved pumpkins we have ever seen! –Curt