The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture is inviting residents across the Commonwealth to get creative this fall with its first-ever Pumpkin Palooza Contest. Running from September 26 through October 20, the competition encourages Pennsylvanians to celebrate the season while supporting local farms.
Participants must purchase their pumpkins from a Pennsylvania farm, market, or pumpkin patch before turning them into a one-of-a-kind work of art. Entries will be accepted in two categories — painted pumpkins and carved pumpkins — with divisions for children (ages 11 and under), youth (ages 12–17), and adults (ages 18 and above).
To enter, contestants must email a photo of their pumpkin to agcontests@pa.gov with the subject line “PA Pumpkin Palooza Entry.” Submissions must include the entrant’s name, age, county, contact information, a photo of the decorated pumpkin, and the name of the Pennsylvania farm where the pumpkin was purchased. Entries missing farm information will be disqualified.
Winners will be notified by email on October 24, with official announcements made on the Department of Agriculture and PA Preferred social media channels on October 31. Winners will receive a PA Preferred swag bag, provided they confirm mailing details by November 5.
Pumpkin Palooza is open to all Pennsylvania residents, excluding Department of Agriculture employees and their households. By entering, participants grant the department permission to use names and photos of submissions in promotional materials.
For those unsure where to buy a qualifying pumpkin, resources like PA Preferred® and Penn State’s Farm Market Finder are available to help locate local farms and markets.
The contest is more than a chance to showcase artistic skills — it also highlights the importance of buying local and celebrating Pennsylvania’s agricultural community. From clever carvings to bold paint designs, the Department of Agriculture says it looks forward to seeing a wide range of “gourd-geous” entries.
For more information, residents can contact agcontests@pa.gov or visit the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture online.
Source: PA.gov