Cooler temperatures and falling leaves can mean only one thing – it's time to mark calendars for The Great Pumpkin Carve. At 5 p.m. on October 27 the artists will begin carving huge pumpkins in the grove behind the Chadds Ford Historical Society's Barn. Growers at S.I.W. Vegetables of Chadds Ford promise that this year's pumpkins will be "monstrous" in size. At nightfall the pumpkins are lit and the judges are ready to tackle the difficult job of choosing winners among 60+ hauntingly carved masterpieces.

A "People's Choice" award means that visitors can be judges and vote for their favorite pumpkin. Hunt Country Furniture of Chadds Ford will donate prizes for the carvers.

On Friday and Saturday, October 28 and 29, is the Great Pumpkin Show. With the winners identified, the lit pumpkins will be displayed in all their ghostly glory. Live music, hot food and cozy hayrides will be available all three evenings.

This event is a Chadds Ford tradition in which carvers and visitors return year after year. 

The Concordville-Chadds Ford Rotary will once again provide valuable assistance in planning and setting up the event as well as preparing and selling as much hot cider and food as the crowd demands. This year they will provide hot food all three evenings. Brandywine T is busy designing a new T-shirt for this year's event. Be sure to head for their booth early. Last year the creative T-shirts and sweatshirts sold out.

Proceeds for admission over and above costs help fund the Chadds Ford Historical Society's educational programs. Receipts from the Rotary's food sales are turned back into the community through vocational and book scholarships for graduating seniors, service organizations, donations to local fire companies and contributions to a variety of youth and women's programs.

The Great Pumpkin Carve and Show takes place in the grove the Chadds Ford Historical Society's Barn at 1736 Creek Road (Old Route 100), ¼ mile from U.S. Route 1.

The carve is open 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. all three nights. Rain date for the Carve is Friday, October 28. Admission is $3, children 6 and under free.

For more information, call the Historical Society at 610-388-7376. UNUSUAL NIGHTTIME PHOTO OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE ADVANCE PHOTOS AVAILABLE.

Links: Pumpkin Carve Fact Sheet, Great Pumpkin Carve Page