On Halloween, the scariest day of the year — especially if you are a pumpkin — students gathered to butcher the orange squash into forms both spooky and sweet.
On Friday, Oct. 31, the University of New Mexico Student Union Building hosted their annual pumpkin carving contest, welcoming the opportunity for students to express creativity with their pumpkins.
The pumpkins were judged in four categories: “scariest,” ”cutest,” “most creative” and “people’s choice.” The winners won prizes including candy and gift cards.
Dale Olguin, the student engagement coordinator and social media manager of the SUB, said an “influx” of students attended the event.
“We do this every year, it’s one of my favorite events that we host,” Olguin said. “We see some very creative designs, seeing people in costumes, having a good time, have a very festive time and celebrate the Halloween spirit.”
A “Puss in Boots” pumpkin won the category of cutest pumpkin, with close seconds being a number of unique pumpkin styles, from “Hello Kitty,” to dinosaurs, cats and bats. Some people even brought props such as carrots and potatoes to help with their decoration.
A sick pumpkin vomited its way to victory and won the people’s choice category.
A wrinkly, sad, scary man pumpkin by senior Miriam Reichsfeld won the creativity category.
There were plenty of scary pumpkins, but the one earning the title of scariest was carved by junior Lilly Grogan. The pumpkin looked like a regular jack-o-lantern, but with the use of the carving tool, the pumpkin was stabbed in the eye with its innards on show.
Ashley Palmer, a student who carved a pumpkin, said she enjoyed the spirit and was happy with both her work and the overall feel of the event.
“Since I did not have a pattern for mine, I’m actually quite proud how mine went,” Palmer said. “I thought the event was a really cool way to get into the Halloween spirit and de-stress around this time of year, and meet some new people. I really enjoyed it.”
Alex Joe is a freelance videographer for the Daily Lobo. He can be reached at culture@dailylobo.com or on X @DailyLobo
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