Posted: September 29, 2021

Enter the Jack-o'-Lantern Contest!

  • Pumpkin giveaway: 1,000 pumpkins will be given away to contest entrants on Sunday, October 10th from 1-3 pm. Can't make it to the giveaway? Carve your own pumpkin to enter the contest!
  • Categories: Age 2-4; Age 5-7; Ages 8-10; age 11-13; Age 14-17; Penn State student and adult.
  • Jack-o'-Lantern Drop-off: Friday, October 15th, 8 am-3 pm. All contest participants will be entered in a drawing for an Arboretum gift bag.

Contest Rules

  1. Each participant is allowed one entry.
  2. Each pumpkin must have a hole (minimum 4 inches diameter) carved in the bottom of the pumpkin so that the Arboretum can place it on top of a light. Participants may not supply their own lighting devices.
  3. Children in age 2-4 and 5-7 categories may entered decorated (e.g. paint, markers, pom-poms, etc.) uncarved pumpkins.  Pumpkins in all other age categories MUST be carved, but they may also be decorated.

See website for more information.

Friday, October 15th

  • 6-9 pm there will be a Jack-o'-Lantern display and food vendors
  • 7-8:30 pm there will be live music

Saturday, October 16th

  • 3-9 pm food vendors
  • 3-6:30 pm activities and crafts
  • 3-8 pm live music and entertainment
  • 6-9 pm Jack-o'-Lantern display

Corner of Park Avenue and Bigler Road at University Park.  Bring a flashlight!  For more information click here.