Julia Ran ‘26
REPORTER
As Halloween approaches, there is only one thing more festive than seeing the spooky decorations and finding costumes for trick or treating: pumpkin carving. The Great Pumpkin Carve at Chadds Ford Historical Society is the epitome of pumpkin carving, with over 70 local artists gathering to carve pumpkins, some of which are over 400 pounds.
The Great Pumpkin Carve is a unique Chadds Ford tradition that began in the 1970's when Andrew Wyeth and his son, Jamie, were convinced to carve pumpkins to decorate Chadds Ford Inn (currently Brandywine Prime). In the following years, other artists joined in the carving. As the event grew, it moved to larger and larger venues, and eventually, in 1992, it ended up where it is now: the meadow behind the Chadds Ford Historical Society.
Now, the Great Pumpkin Carve is held as an annual fundraiser for the Chadds Ford Historical Society. The society's mission is to serve as a bridge between the past and present of Chadds Ford, which has a rich history worthy of being remembered. It works to preserve, educate, and celebrate Chadds Ford in a way that promotes its unique history, preserves its natural beauty, and creates a strong community that reaches into the future.
This year's Pumpkin Carve took place over the course of three days, from Thursday, October 19, to Saturday, October 2. The carving begins in the early evening of Thursday, and each carver has a few hours to carve a pumpkin in whatever style they like. Then, the pumpkins are taken away for judging, and on Friday and Saturday, they are lit and displayed. Each year, people from all over Chadds Ford flock to first watch the artists as they expertly carve out minute details and then return to see all of the carved pumpkins finished and illuminated. Along with the pumpkin carving, the festival also offers a Haunted Trail, raffle prizes, and live music from "Kenny Thompson & Friends", all of which attracts an even bigger crowd.
At the event on Thursday night, the parking lot was packed with hundreds of cars, and people of all ages were streaming toward the entrance. Once inside, there were food and drink stands, and further in, there the pumpkins were! There were 3 circles of carved and lit pumpkins, all illuminated by an overarching string of fairy lights. The pumpkins ranged from traditional spooky faces to carvings of animals to an illusion of a skull formed by a graveyard. Around each ring of pumpkins, a crowd of people went from pumpkin to pumpkin, chatting with each other and the carvers, taking pictures, and voting for their favorite.
Most of the pumpkins were carved by artists with incredible skill, and one second-year carver explained the appeal of pumpkin carving, saying "I love to make art, but when I look at a canvas or a piece of wood, I get nervous. Pumpkins are nice because they only last for a few days!" While it is true that pumpkins only last for a few days, everyone enjoys gathering as a community to see them. Another carver says that the community atmosphere at the Pumpkin Carve is amazing, "with carvers of all skill levels having fun, and people of all ages coming together to celebrate the festival." The Great Pumpkin Carve is about more than just the pumpkins: it is a time where the community gathers to enjoy a time-honored tradition together.