Lubbock’s 14th Annual Pumpkin Trail Needs the Public’s Help
The 14th annual Pumpkin Trail will be collecting pumpkins later during the month of October. The City of Lubbock Parks and Recreation, Lubbock Memorial Arboretum, and the Lubbock Municipal Garden and Arts Center is asking the public to help by donating already carved pumpkins.
Those pumpkins will help light up the path for the Lubbock's pumpkin trail at the Lubbock Memorial Arboretum and Lubbock Municipal Garden and Arts Center, located in Clapp Park between 4111 University Avenue and 4215 University Avenue.
In past years, more than 25,000 people have walked the third of a mile trail, which is lined with over 1,800 pumpkins graciously donated by regular people. The pumpkin trail is made possible by volunteers from the community of Lubbock coming and donating their time to helping before, during, and after the pumpkin trail ends. Donations for already carved pumpkins will be accepted on October 26th from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. and October 27th from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m..
For those who take pumpkins seriously, there will be a pumpkin carving competition held October 25th at 6 p.m. at the Hodges Community Center, located 4011 University Avenue. Registration is currently open until October 23rd, with limited team spots. Each team will receive 10 pumpkins and one carving kit. This is a team effort with no minimum or maximum amount for team sizes, which means you will have to rally up a few people to partner up with for this free event.
Teams that complete 10 pumpkins will get get a group sign on the pumpkin trail along with their pumpkins; 15 or more completed pumpkins comes with a display for their pumpkins, a sign, and three bales of hay to set the fall ambience of the trail.
All submissions must be family-friendly carvings. More information can be found online for those wanting to donate/drop-off pumpkins, submit an application or get more information about making a display group of pumpkins, want to sponsor, or just volunteer their time. Pumpkins are suggested to be carved no earlier than October 25th so that they last the entirety of the trail.