TOWER- With over 200 pumpkins spread in piles inside the Herb Lamppa Civic Center here, there was no shortage of work to do for the families who attended this year’s pumpkin carving party on Sunday.
But it was all smiles and a lot of laughter as children and parents and grandparents worked on creating these most iconic of Halloween decorations. Pumpkin carvers ranged from toddlers to early teens, with plenty of adults lending a helping hand.
This was the second annual pumpkin carving party, organized by Valerie Turnbull, with funding and volunteer help provided by the Tower Firemen’s Relief Association (who purchased all the pumpkins) and many other generous community members.
The civic center was expertly prepared for the upcoming mess: piles of pumpkins, bins full of kid-friendly carving tools, stencils, stickers, paints and brushes. Tables were covered with plastic, with garbage bags strategically placed, along with wet wipes to attempt to clean up messy fingers and faces.
There was some Halloween candy, but most families seemed more excited about the raviolis and pasta that came from Valentini’s in Chisholm, thanks to an additional cash donation from the Tower Fire Department Relief Association.
The pumpkins ranged from small to medium to large, and were grown on a farm that belonged to a friend of one of the fire department members.
“This year things went easier,” said Turnbull, who added she had a lot of help from fellow Scenic Rivers co-worker Brooke Anderson. Tower Fire Department members, including the department’s newest hire Jon Ross, also helped out, along with other family members.
While most of the children brought their pumpkins home, many were strategically placed in front of businesses, up and down Main Street, creating a festival holiday mood for the upcoming Halloween celebration on Tuesday, which includes a PTO-sponsored party at the elementary school, trick-or-treating on Main Street after school, and the fire department Halloween party at the civic center from 3:30 – 5:30 p.m. with games, prizes, and food.