Help bring the Spirits in the Gardens pumpkin display to life!

Pumpkin Prep Volunteers Needed!

October 1-4 and 8-10

Reiman Gardens is gearing up for our annual community event that features a spectacular display of 1,200 carved pumpkins! This year, Spirits in the Gardens will be held October 10-12. With your help, we’ll be tracing, gutting, and carving our way to one amazing event. There are three fun and essential phases to choose from—pick one or join in for all! See position descriptions here.

• Oct 1-4, Tracing Team - We’re getting pumpkins ready for carving — and before the knives come out, we need steady hands to trace pre-cut stencils (ranging from simple to super intricate) onto pumpkins with permanent marker.

• Oct 8-9, Gutsy Gutters – We need several brave volunteers to put on some protective gear and scoop the guts out of the pumpkins! It’s a fun, active task that makes a big impact and gets us one step closer to creating our amazing pumpkin display! It’s messy work—but someone awesome’s gotta do it!

• Oct 8-10, Carving Crew - We’re assembling a fearless crew of pumpkin carvers to turn gourds into glorious works of art! The pumpkins are already gutted and pre-stenciled— they just need your hands (and your carving confidence) to shine. No pro carving experience needed — just focus & care

Individuals and groups are welcome to volunteer!

Pumpkins are provided by Reiman Gardens and MUST remain onsite. All tools, materials and protective gear for tracing, carving and gutting are also provided.

Please Note

• Our shift scheduling has been improved to maintain a steady flow of volunteers.
• Some shifts may be cancelled if earlier shifts complete the pumpkins. This is more likely to impact later shifts on Friday and Saturday.
• Sign up for the earliest shifts you can. Space is limited!
• Volunteers must be 13+ years of age to participate
• Volunteers may be asked to perform alternate tasks as needed but reserve the right to decline.

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Other ways to volunteer

• If tracing, gutting, and carving pumpkins aren't your style, check out our other volunteer need: gardening prep for fall events and set up for Winter Wonderscape!

• If you'd like to volunteer at Spirits in the Gardens (October 10-12), you can sign up for that volunteer opportunity here!

• Member or leader of a student organization, small group, club, other organized group? We have great Group Volunteer Opportunities available on weekends and weekday evenings in the spring semester.