October 11th & October 12th 2025 from 11am CT to 4pm CT

Get into the fall spirit at Carve for the Carillon, a beloved Springfield tradition where creativity and community come together! Spend the afternoon surrounded by pumpkins, laughter, and the beautiful backdrop of the Thomas Rees Carillon in Washington Park as we prepare for the upcoming Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular!

🎃 Note: Pumpkins are first come, first served each day. Once they’re gone, they’re gone—so carve out time early to snag yours!

Carve for the Carillon is a free, family-friendly event where the community comes together to carve pumpkins that will be displayed during the Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular the following weekend.

Whether you’re a master pumpkin artist or a first-time carver, this event is for you. Everyone’s invited—families, artists, scout troops, classrooms, friend groups, or anyone with pumpkin spirit!

Bring your favorite carving tools—we’ll provide the pumpkins (available while supplies last).

Volunteers make this event possible by assisting with set-up and preparing pumpkins for the community to carve.

There are three available shifts:

• All Day Shift: 9:00am-4:00pm
• Morning Shift: 9:00am-12:00pm
• Afternoon Shift: 12:00pm-4:00pm

Sign up to volunteer at Carve for the Carillon and receive 1 free ticket to the Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular at the end of your shift!

Ready to sign up?

• Dates: Saturday, October 11 & Sunday, October 12, 2025
• Time: 11:00 AM – 4:00 PM each day
• Location: Near the Thomas Rees Memorial Carillon in Washington Park, Springfield, IL
• Cost: Free admission & free pumpkins to carve
• Pumpkins: First come, first served each day—don’t be late!
• Donations: Always appreciated to keep this community tradition alive

After you carve your pumpkin, come back the next weekend to see it shine in the Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular! From spooky faces to creative masterpieces, the pumpkins you help make will transform the park into a one-of-a-kind glowing gallery of jack-o-lanterns. New this year, there’s also Scarecrow Row—an added trail of whimsical scarecrows created by local groups!

Don’t miss the chance to come back and see your creation glowing bright!

To make your carving time fun and stress-free, a little preparation goes a long way! While a limited number of carving supplies will be available, we encourage you to bring your own. Here are some helpful tips to get the most out of your carve:

• Carving Tools: Bring pumpkin saws, scoopers, or your favorite carving kit to make cutting and detailing easier.
• Marking Supplies: Use pencils, markers, or stencils to sketch your design before you carve.
• Comfort Items: Pack picnic blankets to sit on or bring a foldable table for extra carving space.
• Clean-Up Helpers: Wet wipes, paper towels, and garbage bags make it easy to clean as you go (please toss trash into the provided cans).
• Design Tips: Remember—your pumpkin will be lit from the inside during the Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular! Bold, simple shapes and larger cut-outs will glow best in the dark. Add a few small details for character, but think about how your design will shine at night.

With these little extras, you’ll carve like a pro, stay comfortable, and create a pumpkin that glows beautifully in Springfield’s most magical fall display!

For more information or to become an event sponsor or a prep-work volunteer: please contact [email protected]