Kidding Around in Chester County

Quintessentially fall, the Great Pumpkin Carve is a whimsical evening full of Halloween fun right in our own backyard.  The event transports visitors back to Falls of yesteryear in its nostalgic setting at the Chadds Ford Historic Society.  With 12,000 visitors, this incredible tradition is a must-attend event to add to your family’s calendars.  With that many people attending, you will want to plan ahead and we hope this guide helps you make the most of this long-standing tradition! 

Basics:

• Address: 1736 Creek Road, Chadds Ford, PA 19317

• Event Annual Date: Second to Last Thursday 4 PM – 9 PM, Friday 4 PM – 9 PM, and Saturday 3 PM – 9 PM in October (October 18-20, 2018)

• Admissions: $15 for Adults, $5 for Children (7-17), Free Under 7 

• Website: https://www.greatpumpkincarve.com/

Know Before You Go:

• Limited Parking: Check Facebook and the Website before leaving

• Stroller Friendly but all natural surfaces

• Port-A-Potties Only

• Food and Drink Available for Purchase (make sure to bring cash)

• Beer, Wine, and Cider Garden

• Lots of Kid and Family Friendly Activities

• Live Music

Our Experience

While just over the boarder in Delaware County, the Great Pumpkin Carve is a must-attend for the Chester County Family!  We have attended every year since finding out about this whimsical Halloween event via word-of-mouth five years ago.  As the story goes, the festival was started by the Wyeth family in the 1970’s, when Jamie and Andrew decided to carve pumpkins and place them at the Chadds Ford Inn.  The pumpkins were so popular, the carving became an annual event; moving first to the Inn’s parking lot which the event outgrew.  Next the event moved to the Brandywine Conservancy and again outgrowing that space, and in the 1990’s the event settled into its present-day location of the Chadds Ford Historic Society.  This event has remained a community favorite for so long because it is completely inclusive; from its origins to today anyone can become a carver.  Though, with the popularity today, the Chadds Ford Historical Society limits the number of carvers to 70.

Upon arrival to the event, you will receive help parking from a parking company hired by the Great Pumpkin Carve.  Pro Tip: make sure you check Facebook and local traffic cameras BEFORE you leave home, especially if you live in the western part of the county and have a bit of a drive to the event.  Last year, the event became so overwhelmingly popular (thanks perhaps in part by the feature on the Travel Channel?), that if you tried to attend you may have found long lines or the parking lot even closed.  This year, there are many improvements to the event that will make your experience smooth which is why we wanted to preview this event for you all!

The first is the aforementioned parking company staffing the parking lot in hopes to make traffic flow smoothly.

The second major change to the layout of the event is that there are double the amount of admission tables this year.  Unlike in years past, once through admissions you enter the event and have the option to either go into the grove to view the food and entertainment or into the field to view the pumpkins.  This change was implemented to allow a better flow and decrease admission line volume.  All proceeds from admissions go towards the maintaining of the Chadds Ford Historical Society and its historic buildings.  The Pumpkin Carve serves as its biggest fundraiser each year.

The third major change is that the pumpkins will no longer be in the grove as they were in previous years, but rather in the large open field.  This format will allow the 70 works of art to be more spread out and allow for faster moving lines with a more logical progression.  As you can imagine, the field is a natural surface and while strollers are allowed this year, you may want to consider another option for toting your little ones; the natural surface could make for a bumpy ride.  The traditional hay ride will still take place in the field, though this year the route circles the pumpkin displays, offering riders a unique bird’s eye view of the pumpkins.

BACK THIS YEAR is the Haunted Trail, which if you have ever been to the event you know is a fan favorite.  If you are wondering if the Haunted Trail is too much for little ones, know that there are people dressed in costume but the trail is not intense as many other haunted attractions in the area are.  However, if you have a little one that you think may be frightened, we say always err on the side of caution!

A fifth change will be exciting for parents and children alike.  The event always features food from the Rotary Club and this year, there will be other vendors onsite as well.  Also new this year, the event will feature local beer, wine, and cider offerings.  Sitting with your friends and family by the warm bonfire with a cup of cider and / or hot chocolate for the kids, listening to the evening’s featured band is the perfect way to end this magical event.  We are looking forward to adding this to our itinerary!

The event runs from Thursday through Saturday and this year, the event organizers added an extra hour to the pumpkin viewing; opening the grove at 4 PM on Thursday and Friday and 3 PM on Saturday.  Pro Tip: the viewing hours of 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM are always peak, as the sun has set and the pumpkins come alive once the candles inside them are lit.  Thursday night provides a unique treat for families, as the participants actually carve the pumpkins on this day.  You can chat with carvers, watch the creations take form, and still enjoy all that the event has to offer.  We have never personally attended on a Thursday but are considering it this year!

This is one of our absolute favorite Halloween events!  We are looking forward to sharing this memory with our daughter for the first time this year.  The whimsy and nostalgia that encapsulate this event always makes us feel like children at heart.  The reason we look forward to introducing her to this community event is that it was started during a time when the simplicity of a well carved pumpkin brought people together to share in the festivities of Halloween.  That spirit is still found in the grove every year, and I hope you decide to bring your Chester County Family to the Great Pumpkin Carve to experience it!  Happy Haunting!