Preparing for the annual Pumpkin Glow. Courtesy/LAACTo ensure the success of the Los Alamos Arts Council’s (LAAC) two upcoming events, the organization needs the community’s help.
The public’s creativity and artistic capabilities are essential to the annual scarecrow contest and Pumpkin Glow since both events showcase the community’s handiwork.
The scarecrow contest will run Saturday through Oct. 26. Entries may be erected along Central Avenue 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Saturday. Contestants also can register during this time at the Los Alamos Chamber of Commerce in Central Park Square. The fee to enter the contest is $10. Judges will evaluate the entries and prizes will be awarded. All participants will be recognized for their efforts.
In the past, participants produced elaborate and clever scarecrows. For instance, in 2012 the Los Alamos Heart Council erected the Tin Man, who found his heart, and last year Otowi Veterinary Mobile Services created Cruella, the villain from the movie, “101 Dalmatians.”
Marlane Hamilton, LAAC executive director, encouraged the community to once again show its creativity in this year’s contest.
“It is by now a tradition to have the scarecrows gracing the streetlights during the week before Halloween and being present for Halloweekend,” Hamilton said. “This year the light (posts) will be back in place just in time for the scarecrows to be attached. LAAC hopes that many scarecrows will appear to help get Central Avenue ready for Halloween and to continue the tradition.”
The opportunity to publicly display artistic talents does not stop with the scarecrow contest. The community is encourage to grab a pumpkin and some carving tools to create jack-o-lanterns to be displayed at the Pumpkin Glow, which is 6-9 p.m., Oct. 25 at Fuller Lodge lawn.
The event typically features about 200 light pumpkins. Participants are also welcomed to listen to student musicians performing in the Masquerade Recital, which begins at 4 p.m. in Fuller Lodge.
Since the key to the Pumpkin Glow’s success is public participation, LAAC is hosting numerous opportunities to turn an orange gourd into a work of art. At 6:30 p.m. Oct. 23 at the Los Alamos Co-op Market, LAAC is hosting a pumpkins carving party. There is no cost to attend and the first 30 attendees will each receive a pumpkin. The carved creations will be held to be displayed at the Pumpkin Glow.
If carvers are looking for advice or tips on how expand their carving skills, LAAC is hosting a carving demonstration during the High-Tech Halloween event 4-6:30 p.m., Oct. 24 at the Bradbury Science Museum.
LAAC President Lori Dauelsberg said the demonstration will prove anyone can make a great looking jack-o-lantern with a few easy techniques. It also is a chance to preview some of the pumpkins that will be featured in the Pumpkin Glow.
A second carving party is 10 a.m. to noon, Oct. 25 in the patio at Smith’s Marketplace. The grocery store is donating 40 pumpkins for the party and LAAC will provide patterns and carving tools. Similar to the Oct. 23 carving party, the pumpkins carved at this event also will be featured in the Pumpkin Glow. Historically, the carving party was held at Fuller Lodge but the Arts Council board decided to try a new venue.
“It is a great opportunity to get people out on their regular Saturday to an event that they may have never been to before,” Dauelsberg said.
The goal of the carving parties is to get people excited about pumpkin carving, she said, “which is something they may have done a very long time ago but haven’t done since.”
Some may think that carving pumpkins is just for kids but it is not true, Dauelsberg said. Anyone, regardless of their age, can enjoy this art. Carvers also do not need to be professional artists to make a great jack-o-lantern.
Dauelsberg, who co-founded the Pumpkin Glow and regularly contributes many finely-carved pumpkins to the event said, “I’m not artistic and I don’t think you have to be artistic to do this.”
Stencils help as well as doing techniques as simple as shaving off the pumpkin’s outer skin, she said. She emphasized that all contributions will be accepted. “Any level of pumpkin is welcomed and we love them all.”
People can drop off pumpkins starting at 3 p.m., Oct. 25 at Fuller Lodge and are invited to pick them up at 9 p.m. to take home.
