Everything You Need To Know

Pumpkin Glow Garden

What is the Pumpkin Glow Garden?

The Pumpkin Glow Garden is a community-created art display and pumpkin contest held during the 2nd Annual Old Town Fall Festival in Berea on October 16–17, 2026.

Last year, our community brought us over 50 carved pumpkins and helped turn Old Town into one big glowing garden. This year, we’re doing it again.

The idea is simple: carve a pumpkin, bring it to Old Town, and add it to the garden.

You absolutely do not have to be an expert pumpkin carver. We want beautiful pumpkins, ridiculous pumpkins, scary pumpkins, classic jack-o’-lanterns, weird little guys, elaborate works of art, and whatever else your brain comes up with.

Once the sun goes down, we’ll light them all up together and let Old Town glow.

How Will It Work?

Anyone can participate: individuals, families, schools, businesses, kids, grown-ups, artists, people who have never carved anything more complicated than triangle eyes. Everybody is welcome.

Each pumpkin will be displayed with a number so festival-goers can wander through the garden, admire what everyone created, and vote for their favorites.

This year, you’ll have TWO chances to experience the Pumpkin Glow Garden after dark.

Friday Night

On Friday, October 16, we’ll light the garden for a special after-dark preview.

Friday night is also the ONLY time you can vote for our new Best of Glow award, because some pumpkins really have to be seen in the dark.

We’ll tally those votes Friday night, but we’re keeping the winner a secret until Saturday.

Saturday

The garden will be on display throughout the Old Town Fall Festival on Saturday, October 17, with voting all day in our three Saturday categories.

Around dusk, we’ll light the whole garden again and announce all four winners before rolling into the festival’s after-dark festivities and our spooky old movie.

How to Enter

Click below to sign up and let us know your pumpkin is coming!

👉 Pumpkin Glow Garden Sign Up Form

Paper forms will also be available at pumpkin drop-off.

Categories & Prizes

This year, pumpkins will compete in four categories:

Prettiest Pumpkin in the Patch

For the pumpkin that is just plain beautiful. Gorgeous carving, thoughtful details, lovely colors, beautiful decoration, or anything that makes people stop and admire it.

Most Ridiculous Pumpkin in the Patch

For the pumpkin that makes people laugh, stare, or ask, “What is happening here?” Weird, silly, over-the-top, absurd, chaotic, and completely unnecessary in the best possible way.

Scariest Pumpkin in the Patch

For the pumpkin bringing the biggest fright. Creepy, spooky, eerie, unsettling, or full-on Halloween nightmare.

Best of Glow

Our special Friday-night-only award for the pumpkin that really comes alive after dark.

There will be one winner in each category, and we are putting together another round of seriously great prize packages for this year’s winners.

Last year, each winning prize package was valued at more than $400, and we’re working with local businesses and community partners to make this year’s prizes just as exciting.

More prize details coming soon!

What’s the Timeline?

Wednesday, October 14

  • Pumpkin drop-off begins at Maddox Made in Old Town Berea.

Thursday, October 15

  • Pumpkin drop-off continues.

Friday, October 16

  • 3 PM: Deadline to enter your pumpkin in Best of Glow.

  • Friday evening: The Pumpkin Glow Garden lights up for our special after-dark preview.

  • Friday night only: Best of Glow voting.

Best of Glow votes will be tallied Friday night, but the winner will not be announced until Saturday.

Saturday, October 17 - Festival Day

  • 9:30 AM: Final deadline to enter a pumpkin in the Saturday contest.

  • 10 AM: The Old Town Fall Festival begins and Pumpkin Glow Garden voting opens.

  • 6:30 PM: Voting closes.

  • 6:55PM: Lighting Ceremony — pumpkins are illuminated for the full glow experience

  • 7PM: Winners announced

  • After dark: Stick around as the festival rolls into its nighttime festivities, including an outdoor movie presented by the Appalachia Cinema Preservation Society.

Sunday, October 18

10 AM–5 PM: Pumpkin pickup.

Want to keep your pumpkin? Come grab it directly from the garden.

Any real pumpkins still in the garden after pickup ends will be donated for local farm animals to enjoy. Reusable foam or craft pumpkins will be collected separately.

What are the Rules?

The rules for the Garden are as follows: 

  1. One Entry Per Person: Each participant may submit one pumpkin.

  2. Family-Friendly: Pumpkins must be appropriate for all ages — no hateful, inappropriate, divisive, violent, or unsafe content.

  3. Carved Design Required: Creativity is encouraged! Paint, props, and decorations are welcome, but because this is a Pumpkin Glow, the pumpkin must also be carved and the carving should be a defining feature of the design.

  4. Lighting: Battery-operated tea lights only. (We can provide if needed on a first come, first serve basis. No open flames permitted.)

  5. Condition at Drop-Off: Pumpkins must be cleaned, dried, and free of seeds/pulp. Please ensure your pumpkin is sturdy enough to sit safely on a flat surface. Your name and contact information must be securely attached (tag, card, or taped note).

  6. Drop-Off: Pumpkins may be dropped off at:

    Maddox Made, 139B N Broadway, Berea Kentucky

    Drop-off begins Wednesday, October 14.

    To participate in Best of Glow, your pumpkin must arrive by 3 PM Friday, October 16.

    The final deadline for the Saturday contest is 9:30 AM Saturday, October 17.

  7. Pickup: Pumpkins must be picked up any time on Sunday, October 18. Any pumpkins left at the end of the day may be donated or discarded.

  8. Voting: Each pumpkin will be displayed with a number so entries can be voted on anonymously.

    Friday Night:
    Visitors may vote for Best of Glow. Best of Glow voting happens Friday night only.

    Saturday:
    Visitors may vote for:

    Prettiest Pumpkin in the Patch
    Most Ridiculous Pumpkin in the Patch
    Scariest Pumpkin in the Patch

    Voting must take place in person at the Pumpkin Glow Garden.

    Best of Glow votes will be tallied Friday night. Saturday votes will be counted after voting closes around dusk.

    All four winners will be announced Saturday evening when the garden lights up.

  9. Prizes: The Winner in each category will receive a basket of goodies valued at over $400, including:
    A photography mini session with Ariana Jordan Photography
    A glassblowing class with Fire & Fern Studio
    A handmade glass pumpkin
    Plus other local treats and surprises!

  10. Festival Discretion: The Old Town Fall Festival reserves the right to decline or remove any pumpkin deemed unfit for display or contest for any reason.

  11. Liability: The Old Town Fall Festival and Maddox Made are not responsible for lost, stolen, damaged, or decayed pumpkins.

Who is responsible for this?

The Pumpkin Glow Garden is is a community collaboration led by Maddox Made, with contributions from Fire & Fern Glass Studio, Top Drawer Gallery, the Berea Arts Council, and the Kentucky Guild of Artists and Craftsmen, and more. It is a part of the Old Town Fall Festival, a celebration of art, community, and autumn magic. With live artist demonstrations, the dazzling Fire & Fern Glass Pumpkin Patch, local vendors, music, and family-friendly activities, Old Town will be the place to celebrate fall in Berea.