28 pumpkin carving ideas to celebrate spooky season
Grab a PSL, pull up a chair and try these pumpkin carving ideas.
Changing leaves, all things flavored pumpkin, cooler weather, cozy sweaters, pumpkin spice lattes, apple picking, pumpkin carving… there’s so many things to do in the fall. Did we mention how much we love pumpkins? Because pumpkin painting ideas and looking at pumpkin carving ideas is hands down our favorite Halloween activity—in addition to Halloween desserts and eating all the candy, of course.
Whether this is your first year taking part in the seasonal tradition or you’re a pumpkin carving pro, it’s easy to get stuck in the carving brainstorming stage. Enter: our full catalog of pumpkin carving ideas. From spooky trademark characters (ghosts, cats, Frankenstein, etc.) to designs based on your favorite Disney characters, we searched the web for the most inspiration pumpkin carvings out there. So visit your local pumpkin patch, open a bag of candy corn, turn on your favorite Halloween movie and get to trying these pumpkin carving ideas!
28 easy pumpkin carving ideas to try this Halloween 2022
1. Hocus Pocus pumpkins
It’s not spooky season, if you haven’t watched “Hocus Pocus.” Maybe the new version will inspire pumpkin carving ideas.
2. Jack-o’-lantern
Nothing like a classic pumpkin carving to get everyone in the mood for October.
3. ‘Frozen’-themed
We’re all just as obsessed with Anna and Elsa as our kids or nieces and nephews are.
4. Bats
Bats are a Halloween decoration staple so of course we’re a fan of adding them to our pumpkin carving.
5. Scooby-Doo
When it comes to fighting ghosts and monsters, it doesn’t get more iconic than this duo.
Related: 24 Halloween costumes for kids inspired by famous TV & movie characters
6. Stranger-pumpkin-things
Nothing embodies spooky vibes quite like “Stranger Things.”
7. Mario
What’s a pumpkin carving without everyone’s favorite video game character?
8. Scared pumpkin
This design is guaranteed to impress your neighbors and, if you’re feeling extra adventurous, try adding the mini white carved pumpkins, too!
9. Owl, cat, tree
Let your kiddos choose their own carvings and you’ll probably end up with something as interesting as this trio.
10. Flying witch
It’s time to bring out your book of magic spells and potions.
11. Mickey Mouse
Disney enthusiasts and young kids will love this pumpkin carving idea!
12. Star Wars characters
There are some Halloween ideas we’ll leave to the experts and this is one of them.
13. Frankenstein
Mary Shelley would be so proud.
14. This way for treats
Let trick-or-treaters know your candy bowl is stocked with goodies with this fun sign.
15. Pumpkins and paws
For all the dog parents.
16. Harry Potter fans
Show your Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Slytherin or Hufflepuff pride with a Harry Potter-themed pumpkin.
17. Happy Halloween
Wish everyone a “Happy Halloween!” with this cute pumpkin.
18. Oogie Boogie
“The Nightmare Before Christmas” fans will love good ol’ Oogie Boogie.
19. Smiley face
A happy pumpkin makes for happy trick-or-treaters (hopefully).
20. Dad joke pumpkin
Have a hoot with this dad joke and pumpkin all carved into one.
21. Spider pumpkin
A very on-brand design idea.
22. Pup-kin
The better question is, why not put your pup’s face on a pumpkin?
Related: Want a responsible child? Get them a pet
23. Team spirit
Halloween is just another occasion to show some team spirit.
24. Batman
We’ll leave it to you to decide. Who wore it better, Batman or Bat-pumpkin?
25. Name carving
It’s like wooden block letters but the pumpkin version!
26. Branded pumpkin
Chicken and pumpkin never looked so good.
27. Floral pumpkins
Okay, now these are the kind of pumpkins we’d keep all year long.
28. Skeleton man
Just carve out some ribs then stick the little guy through the holes and voila!
A version of this post was published September 14, 2021. It has been updated.
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