October 26th is National Pumpkin Day! Sure, Halloween is for trick-or-treating and dressing your kids up in cute costumes, but we think the adults deserve a Halloween treat too! We’re bringing you seven creative Pumpkin Day activities for your next grownup party. But first, let’s provide some background on National Pumpkin Day.
What is National Pumpkin Day?
National Pumpkin Day falls each year on October 26th, but really as soon as the pumpkins are ready to be picked you can start celebrating. This unofficial holiday was created to recognize this versatile fruit. Yes, we said fruit. Not only are pumpkins extremely healthy and packed with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, but there’s a lot of ways you can have fun with them. Here are 7 innovative ways you can celebrate National Pumpkin Day 2024:
National Pumpkin Day Activities for 2024
1. The Great Team Building Pumpkin Race
Never mind the Indy 500 or Kentucky Derby, race like a pro with the widely celebrated Pumpkin Race. The rules are simple. Each team must create, name, and brand their street-legal racer which of course, must be made of a pumpkin and two independent axles with wheels attached.
2. Pumpkin Wine
Check out this Fall themed event if you love wine! Crafting this is very similar to crafting a jack-o-lantern – the only difference is that one is filled with wine! Buy a box/bag of your favorite wine and a pumpkin that’s large enough to fit the wine in. Cut the top off of your pumpkin and clean out the seeds and mushy insides. Carve a hole that’s big enough for the wine spout and push the spout through. Et voila – you now have pumpkin wine! If you’re feeling especially creative, take some time to paint the pumpkin with some sort of indication as to what’s inside! Enjoy your hallo-wine!
3. Bobbing for Mini Pumpkins
Fill up a tub, or cauldron if you’re feeling especially witchy, with water and plenty of mini pumpkins. Set a timer for each player and have them hold their hands behind their backs while they bob for pumpkins. The player who gets the most pumpkins wins.
4. Catapult to Success
Work as a team to build your own catapult and launch pumpkins in a high-energy competition of distance and accuracy. Define a key takeaway from the event such as continuous improvement to inspire your team to work better together. The team with the best distance and accuracy score wins!
5. Pumpkin Spice Shots
You either love or hate the Starbucks classic, but when you combine a Pumpkin Spiced Latte with alcohol, you really can’t go wrong. Check out this recipe from Cooking with Janica for step-by-step directions on how to make these crowd-pleasers to celebrate Halloween in the office!
6. Cook up Some Pumpkin Treats
Chef up a fall staple like pumpkin pie or pumpkin bread – pumpkin can be utilized in almost any treat you can think of and is the perfect way to spice up your fall party. Check out these 20 easy pumpkin recipes for inspiration on how to treat your friends/team.
7. Pumpkin Carving Contest
What better way to celebrate National Pumpkin Day than hosting a pumpkin carving contest? No matter your age, people love to get artistic. Get creative and show off your skills while giving your guests an easy Halloween decoration they can take home with them. And, if you want to add some more spice to your party, invite a master carver!
These ideas don’t just need to apply to National Pumpkin Day, but any fall party you may be having. Think office party, Friendsgiving, or just a small get-together. If you need more ideas for celebrating National Pumpkin Day or treating your friends and team this fall season, check out our Halloween activities and Fall team building activities!
