It was not lost on me that I had half a century on the tweens I hosted at my home for a pumpkin carving party. To them, I must have seemed somewhere in age between the pyramids at Giza and the signing of the Magna Carta. But surely things haven’t changed that much since I spent Halloween racing around like an Olympian to score as many treats as possible?
How to Plan a Pumpkin Picking and Carving Party in New Mexico
And excess, it turns out, is still the key to an autumnal celebration for not-quite teens. Bowls of candy dotted around the table ensured a suitable sugar spike. Yes, they sniffed out a red pepper-hued hummus as far too healthy, but copious amounts of orange and black tortilla chips softened the blow. Mini pumpkins – scooped out, then baked, and filled with a pumpkin bisque – even had a few converts.
The trick to keeping a group of tweens happy is lots – and I mean lots – of activities. Err on the side of too many and you’ll probably find they whip through them all without batting an eye. And be prepared for some activities to capture their imagination more than others. (The make-your-own mask with loads of ‘diamonds’ and rhinestones and topped off with fake eyelashes was far and away the favorite.)
Then there is the pumpkin carving itself. Don’t worry about scoring ‘perfect’ curcurbita, as the wonky ones are most prized. If there is a slightly disturbing trend to leave a knife embedded in the pumpkin like a B-slasher movie, pretend you don’t notice. It’s just “how they do it” nowadays.
Decorating store-bought cookies with store-bought icing was a winner and an easy one to pull off without even having to pre-heat the oven. Tie-dying t-shirts in orange and black was perhaps overkill, but it meant I could dye one for myself, which was the goal all along.
Keep the candy coming and don’t eavesdrop on whispered conversations and you’ve got a winner. And if you play your cards right, a new tie-dye t-shirt to boot.
Special thanks to photographer Tira Howard, as well as her daughter Pippa and friends for taking part.
Where to Pick Pumpkins in New Mexico
Yes, you can snap up pumpkins at the supermarket but a visit to a pick-your-own farm is a lot more fun. Here are some spots where you can nab the perfect pumpkin, ideal for the spookiest of jack-o-lanterns.
Big Jim Farms
3521 Rio Grande Boulevard NW, Albuquerque
Pick your own pumpkins from mid-September through October. You can pick your own flowers and green chile, too.
Five Heart Farms
371 Curry Road 10, Texico
Seasonal flowers, local provisions, farm produce, and of course pumpkins, abound. On weekends there are local musicians on hand, with beer and food trucks to keep you fed and watered. (Treat yourself by saying Texico, New Mexico out loud a few times!)
La Union Maze
1101 NM-028, Anthony
Check out their 13-acre maze and take a wagon ride to the pumpkin patch to pick your own.
Mesilla Valley Maze
3855 W Picacho Avenue, Las Cruces
Come for the giant corn maze, stay for the hayrides, and make sure to pick your own pumpkin from this Las Cruces farm.
Wagner’s Farmland Experience
6445 Corrales Road, Corrales
Head out during the month of October for pumpkin picking and more seasonal shenanigans.
Story by Julia Platt Leonard
Photography by Tira Howard
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