Pumpkin carving: Fine art or family fun?

Pumpkins have long been a staple of Halloween. Every October, they pop up in shops across the country, waiting to be carved. Often, pumpkin carving happens in family homes alongside apple-bobbing, costumes, and trick-or-treating. However, in recent years, pumpkin carving has become an art form in its own right, with people paying up to £800 for intricately decorated pumpkins that last, at most, a week. For many, their ephemeral nature is what makes them beautiful, however, others struggle to understand the point. Groups spend up to 12 hours working on one pumpkin only for it to rot a few days later. 

Pumpkin carving is no longer just a pastime for children and families in the October half-term; it is now a legitimate art form

Pumpkins have been a tradition in Britain for centuries; in fact, their history dates back to the Celts, who carved turnips into lanterns during the Celtic holiday of Samhain to celebrate the end of the harvest season. This stemmed from the Irish myth about a man named ‘Stingy Jack’, who tricked the Devil and was made to roam the earth with nothing more than a turnip lantern. This myth was then brought over to America, where they found that pumpkins were easier to carve and so they became the new canvas for the art. This ancient myth has endured through tradition and has since evolved into something more. 

Pumpkin carving is no longer just a pastime for children and families in the October half-term; it is now a legitimate art form. The Maniac Pumpkin Carvers are a group of 12 artists who carve intricately planned and drawn designs into pumpkins. They work year-round, mostly in the autumn months, and have reimagined the typical ideas surrounding pumpkin carving. The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) has displayed several pumpkins they created to honour other artwork in the museum, including ‘Starry Night’ by Van Gogh and ‘Ceci n’est pas une pipe’ by René Magritte. 

Much of the Maniac Pumpkin Carvers’ success came from their strong social media presence, which gave them a brand and videos to fall back on. This led them to many deals with the likes of the Yankees. They post time-lapses and edits of their work, inspiring others to take their own work to the next level. Whilst their posting has dwindled since the end of 2025, their legacy lives on, and every year we are seeing more impressive pumpkin artwork. 

Sculptor Ray Villafane has also acted as a pioneer for this art form. He creates three-dimensional sculptures from pumpkins, ranging from silly animated faces to horror scenes. 

This year, another well-known pumpkin artist, Mark Valladao, also known as Farmer Mike, has been named the ‘Picasso’ of pumpkin carving. He is known for the comical faces he carves on his giant pumpkins. Mike Valladao has been practising for 40 years and has become a very impressive pumpkin sculptor. 

Despite the rise of highly skilled, artistic pumpkin carving, it has not lost its roots and remains a budget-friendly, fun family treat to complete during the weeks leading up to Halloween

Social media, no doubt, drives much of the pressure to create more detailed designs, with people posting impressive pumpkins that range from film stills, like Project Hail Mary and The Hunger Games, to animal impressions and more traditional, but equally impressive, skulls. Many feel it is no longer enough to simply carve a slightly lopsided face into a pumpkin and call it a day. Social media and YouTube are also a great opportunity to learn how to create different designs and techniques to make your pumpkins even better! There are plenty of very impressive tutorials, templates, and time-lapses for those lacking inspiration. Tutorials range from lessons teaching you to carve simple smiley faces to three-dimensional artworks.

Despite the rise of highly skilled, artistic pumpkin carving, it has not lost its roots and remains a budget-friendly, fun family treat to complete during the weeks leading up to Halloween. This year, the BBC has promoted it as a great activity to complete as a family, along with other spooky activities running during half-term. Tesco is also giving away free pre-carved pumpkins to help busy families celebrate the season without the hassle and mess of carving their own. Families are still welcome to put out messy and imperfect pumpkins to welcome trick-or-treaters. Or even buy a pre-made pumpkin. 

So whatever pumpkin you want to make this Halloween, there are plenty of opportunities. You might want to learn more about the art form, invest in a stunning bespoke pumpkin, or snag a free pre-carved pumpkin from Tesco. Pumpkin carving is expanding beyond its traditional boundaries, but it still remains a very budget-friendly and family-appropriate pastime for children and adults alike.