National Park Pumpkin Carving Templates and Ideas

The Park Service has a seasonal source of carving ideas beyond the usual face.

Published October 23, 20261 MIN READ · SOURCE-BASED REPORT

Five carved jack-o’-lanterns lit from within on a table at night.

Hand-carved jack-o’-lanterns photographed October 31, 2014. Context photograph; these are not the National Park Service templates.Photo: Douglaspperkins · Image source · CC BY 4.0 · Resized for display; the layout may crop the photograph.

By VIRVIB · Lifestyle desk

Start with a different shape

Hand-carved jack-o’-lanterns photographed October 31, 2014. Context photograph; these are not the National Park Service templates.Photo: Douglaspperkins · Source · CC BY 4.0

The National Park Service is highlighting its Park Pumpkin Carvings Challenge this fall. The project offers park-inspired templates and invites people to create their own designs. It is a useful starting point if the familiar triangle-eyed face no longer feels like a project.

Choose the subject first

The collection includes an autumn-leaf design and a wildlife-themed close-encounter design. Pick a subject you recognize and want to spend time drawing. A template can be a starting point rather than something you must reproduce perfectly.

A plan for a shared afternoon

Try giving each person the same subject and letting them sketch a different version on paper first. Compare the silhouettes before deciding which design belongs on the pumpkin. This is an editorial suggestion, not an activity promised by the Park Service.

Find the templates

Use the original NPS project page for the artwork and its accompanying guidance. The appeal is simple: a fall decoration can also remind you of a place, an animal or a walk you want to remember.

Sources & original reportingSource publication or schedule date: Seasonal resource featured October 2026National Park Service — Park Pumpkin Carvings Challenge ↗

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Prepared with AI assistance. Source-based reporting checked on October 23, 2026. This article does not update automatically. Read our editorial standards.