The Great Pumpkin Dinner Celebration

Fall is my absolute favorite time of year.  Although I enjoy all of the seasons, there is something about the color of fall, the cool crispness in the air, and the harvest of plenty that inspires me and reminds me
how much I have to be thankful for.

The Great Pumpkin Dinner has been a tradition in our both the Jones and the Arnold households for many years.  It started when our children were very young, and is still a favorite today, even though they are grown.  We have done this celebration with our own family, but many years we have invited friends, neighbors, etc, to join in on the fun.  Sometimes our furry friends even like to get in on the action.

Amber's puppy~ Half-Pint

  Everyone whether old or young enjoys the Great Pumpkin Dinner.  You may be asking yourself..."What on earth is the Great Pumpkin Dinner?  Well let me explain.

The Great Pumpkin Dinner is a celebration of fall.  It starts out with a Pumpkin Carving Contest, which in our household has become very competitive over the years.  Sometimes we even vote on the best pumpkin and offer a prize for the cutest, scariest, etc.

Landon, Dave and Amber carving away!

 

Dave showing off his Charlie Brown!

We have carved everything from cats, to Frankenstein, to Charlie Brown.  You name it.  Everyone chooses their own particular pattern, and then they go to work.  You can actually find different patterns on the internet, or many times your local store will carry books with pumpkin carving patterns in them. 
When your children are young, it's fun to read the Parable of the Pumpkin Story while you carve.  (see Bear Tracks page)

  Once we are finished carving we set them all up in a row to admire them, but we have to wait til it gets dark to do the official pumpkin lighting.

The Jones' pumpkin display

Of course, after all that carving everyone is good and hungry, so dinner is next on the agenda.  It's fun to make your dinner table festive.  Years ago I found some cute pumpkin bowls that were on a clearance rack after Halloween.
I bought several sets, and have used them every year since.

But you don't have pumpkin dishes to create a great table.   You can also supplement with cute paper napkins and plates that have pumpkins or fall decorations on them.  You can use an orange table cloth, and whatever else will make your table look like fall, such as leaves, corn candy, little pumpkins for candle holders, etc.
Ours table varies from year to year.

Pumpkin dinner at the Jones house

The food on the menu is mouth watering and everyone looks forward to it.  Apple Cider Pumpkin Stew, Positively Perfect Pumpkin  Bread, Hot Apple Cider,  (see Moose Munchies page for recipes.)

While we eat, we try to name all of the stories, songs or movies we can think of with the word "pumpkin" in them, such as Peter Peter Pumpkin Eater, etc.
As soon as it gets dark, we all gather around to light our pumpkins.

Dave's Charlie Brown

Landon's Frankenstein

Amber's Kitty Cat

To top the evening off, we watch The Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown, hoping that one of these years the Great Pumpkin will actually show up.  We watch in suspense as we snack on caramel apples, or popcorn.

 Everyone in our family looks forward to the Great Pumpkin Dinner Celebration.  It has become a tradition that has left many great memories to reminisce about.
What do you do to celebrate fall?  We'd love to hear from you.  If you are not currently doing a tradition for fall, why not start at Great Pumpkin Dinner Celebration?
You will be glad you did!

Janna