Public Pumpkin Carving
The NEW Zoo & Adventure Park invites you to carve out some fun this fall at our annual Public Pumpkin Carving Event, sponsored by Happy Joe’s Pizza & ice Cream and Hy-Vee. This year’s event will take place on Wednesday, October 7 from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Pines Shelter building, on the north end of the NEW Zoo’s main parking lot. Bring your own carving tools and show us your creative carving skills to help us decorate the Zoo! This event is free to attend. Donations of pumpkins are welcome and encouraged, but pumpkins for attendees to carve will also be provided by Hy-Vee.
If you work up an appetite while you carve, don’t worry: Happy Joe’s Pizza & Ice Cream is providing FREE PIZZA and there will also be drinks for everyone who joins us while supplies last! Happy Joe’s mascot, “Happy the Dog,” will also stop by that night to meet guests. This is a great opportunity for families, along with larger groups such as scout troops, clubs, churches, school service groups, and more. Everyone is welcome!
“Over the last 15 years, our Public Pumpkin Carving event has become a favorite fall activity for so many families in our community,” says Angela Kawski, Education & Outreach Manager. “It takes a lot of hands to carve the 200-plus pumpkins needed to line the Zoo’s pathways, but it’s such a fun time for everyone who joins us. We love seeing both familiar and new faces every year.”
All pumpkins carved during the event remain at the Zoo, to be used to decorate for North Shore Bank Zoo Boo 2026, held on Fridays and Saturdays throughout October. Community members are also welcome to drop off carved pumpkins at the NEW Zoo anytime during regular business hours, Sundays through Thursdays in October, starting on October 11th. The NEW Zoo & Adventure Park is continually in need of “fresh” pumpkins throughout the month.
Pre-registration through our online RSVP system is strongly encouraged for the event. After registering, guests can arrive anytime between the hours of 4:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
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Thanks to our sponsors!
