how do you illuminate a pumpkin

What is the best way to light up a pumpkin?

Use candles. Candles are the traditional way of lighting a pumpkin and they're still much in use today. For the pumpkin with a simple base hole: Light the candle first....Use a battery powered light.There are several different types of battery powered lights on the market. ... Kids love the rainbow glow light.More items...

What do you add to pumpkins to light them up?

String Lights/Holiday Lights Wrap a string of lights around a ball and place inside your pumpkin. Multicolored lights – or a spooky green or blue offer a warm, eerie glow inside the orange/yellow interior.

How do you make a lighted pumpkin?

1:424:10DIY LED Pumpkin Lights - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipInsert your string of led lights through the pumpkins top and push the bulbs through each hole theMoreInsert your string of led lights through the pumpkins top and push the bulbs through each hole the bases of your bulb should be wedged snugly into the inner sides of the pumpkins with the leds poking.

What kind of light do you put in a pumpkin?

Glow sticks are ideal for lighting small pumpkins. For bigger pumpkins, buy a few high-intensity glow sticks. They won't last as long, but they'll be brighter. Battery-operated jack-o'-lantern glow sticks with stands are also available.

Do you leave the top on a pumpkin when lit?

As opposed to carving the top portion of the pumpkin to create a removable lid, experts suggest cutting out the bottom instead. It's much easier to place the pumpkin with a hole in the base over top of a lit candle than putting the candle inside the pumpkin from the top where there's a greater risk of receiving a burn.

Can you put LED lights in a pumpkin?

They also put out a lot of heat – more than enough to burn yourself if you touch one. Instead, why not use an LED light in your pumpkin? LEDs draw way less power than old-fashioned bulbs, and can even run on batteries. They also run cool, so there's no risk of anyone getting burned.

How do you make glow in the dark pumpkins?

The best paint for glowing pumpkins is Tulip Glow-in-the-Dark Dimensional Fabric Paint! You can buy this glow paint in a 6-pack (find it on our site here). This paint comes in 6 diffferent colors and is activated by UV light. Blacklights work great for activating the glow and making it glow super bright.

Can you put string lights in a pumpkin?

Insert your string of LED lights through the pumpkin's top and push the bulbs through each hole. The bases of your bulbs should be wedged snuggly into the inner sides of the pumpkins with the LEDs poking out. Run the cord through the top or bottom of the pumpkin to the nearest outlet. And voila, you're done!

How do you put a torch on a pumpkin?

0:241:22How To Make A Jack O Lantern In Minecraft - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipOr in a crafting table. And you want to take the carved pumpkin. And place it on top of that and asMoreOr in a crafting table. And you want to take the carved pumpkin. And place it on top of that and as you can see it will curve ate a jack-o'-lantern. Here.

How thin does pumpkin have to be for light to shine through it?

Pumpkins tend to have very thick walls, and for the light to shine through, especially if you are etching a design, you will want to thin it to about 1/2 to 1-inch thick.

Are tea lights safe in pumpkins?

Tiny tea lights are the candles of choice if you're a fan of the traditionally best way to light a pumpkin. Beware, however, they are not suitable for extended or unsupervised use due to their potential to pose a fire hazard.

Can you leave a candle burning in a pumpkin?

Our guideline is that a carved pumpkin is only considered food safe for two hours once the inside has been exposed to air. If you're burning a candle inside of it, the added heat and potential soot issues make it unwise to cook with it at all. The wise counsel of “when in doubt, throw it out” applies here.

What does Epsom salt do for pumpkins?

2:434:59Pumpkin Vines and the Power of Epsom Salt - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd epsom salts provides both magnesium and sulfur just dissolve some of it into a cup. Water it onMoreAnd epsom salts provides both magnesium and sulfur just dissolve some of it into a cup. Water it on the you know port right on the plants or sprinkle. It on the ground around your plants.

What does bleach and water do for a pumpkin?

Cleaning Your Pumpkin Bleach kills mold and will prevent it from attacking your pumpkin. You can either completely submerge your carved pumpkin into a solution of three tablespoons bleach to three gallons water, or you can use a spray bottle filled with water and a small amount of bleach to treat the carved areas.

What does Vaseline do for pumpkins?

However, if you would rather use something you already have, coat the edges in petroleum jelly or WD-40 to keep them moist. Pumpkins that dry out tend to collapse around their carved edges. Petroleum jelly keeps them moist for longer and slows down the drying process..

What do you dip pumpkins in to make them last longer?

Give Them a Bath Give your pumpkin a bath every now and then to keep its rind fresh. Mix one part bleach to ten parts water in a large container and let your pumpkin bathe in the solution for two minutes.

Tried and true: Candles

Tiny tea lights are the candles of choice if you’re a fan of the traditionally best way to light a pumpkin. Beware, however, they are not suitable for extended or unsupervised use due to their potential to pose a fire hazard.

Safe for your shorty: Battery-operated LEDs

Halloween-specific, puck-sized battery operated LEDs and smaller LED tea lights offer safe, bright illumination. Some models even feature a flickering specialty mode with yellow tones for a more realistic effect.

More BOO for you: Motion sensitive and remote control options

For those looking for a little extra BOO, try a motion-sensitive cordless LED night light, or adjust lighting from the comfort of your recliner with these remote control, puck-style lights.

Crazy color: Glow sticks

Cheap and easy, glow sticks offer intense pumpkin carving color. Outrageously priced in-stores? Shop online for a better buy.

Starlight, star bright – is that an old Lite Brite?

A string of holiday lights can make a fun and interesting pumpkin design. Use colored lights within or without for a little extra flair.

Pump it up: Laser light show

For parties – or your porch – you can’t beat laser pumpkin lighting for its wow-factor. Add a fog machine for even more ghoulish effects.

Candles

If you'll only be lighting your pumpkin on Halloween night, you'll be fine to use a candle. It has that warm flickering glow that everyone loves. You can even rub ground cinnamon and nutmeg onto the roof and lid of your pumpkin so it wafts a great fall scent out as the candle burns.

Commercial LED lights

Whether you buy a Halloween-specific light like this battery powered LED puck or you just grab some LED tap lights from the lighting aisle of the hardware store, LEDs offer a great way to get bright light safely, cheaply, and without the risk of heating up your pumpkin.

Glow Sticks

Glow sticks are a cheap way to get intense color. Don't buy your glow sticks one at a time in Halloween-themed packs, however. They're sold at a ridiculous markup around Halloween. $3.99 for a glow stick? Buy them online for a buck or less a piece.

CFL Bulbs

If you've invested the energy to carve an epic pumpkin you don't want to display it just on Halloween night. CFL bulbs are cool enough and bright enough to really show off your masterpiece. You'll need to do some basic wiring to wire up a socket inside the pumpkin but other than that, it's as easy as screwing in a light bulb.

Advanced Pumpkin Lighting

If buying a commercial LED light or just wiring a light socket into your pumpkin seems like too little DIY fun for you, the internet is filled with tutorials on taking things to the next level. You could set up your pumpkin with a light-sensitive LED array controlled by an Arduino or even wire your pumpkin to synchronize its lights to music.

Why Are Pumpkins Carved at Halloween?

Before you learn how to carve a pumpkin, you may well be wondering why we do it in the first place. The tradition of carving pumpkins into scary faces has its roots in Ireland.

Pick a Perfect Pumpkin to Carve

Before we talk about how to carve a pumpkin, let’s talk about how to select one.

How to Carve a Pumpkin Step by Step

If you are wondering how to carve a pumpkin into a jack-o’-lantern, here’s what you need to know: Obviously, you need a pumpkin (see above) — plus you’ll need a couple of tools for cutting, scraping and carving. (You probably have some in your kitchen drawers that will work.)

How to Roast Pumpkin Seeds

Now that you’ve learned how to carve a pumpkin and you have your jack-o’-lantern, you may be wondering what to do with the seeds. Pumpkin seeds are loaded with protein, minerals and good taste, so make eating them part of your pumpkin-carving tradition.

Pumpkin Carving Instructions

As a Halloween tradition, it can be fun to learn how to carve a pumpkin the best way possible and make your own jack-o’-lantern.

Tips

If you're having issues with pollination, try hand pollinating your pumpkin's flowers.

Warnings

Pumpkin leaves will even climb nearby trees or wall if given the opportunity. A house a person once bought had an overgrown pumpkin patch with a pumpkin growing on the roof!

About This Article

This article was co-authored by Andrew Carberry, MPH. Andrew Carberry has been working in food systems since 2008. He has a Masters in Public Health Nutrition and Public Health Planning and Administration from the University of Tennessee-Knoxville. This article has been viewed 554,461 times.