In the weeks following Halloween, SCARCE coordinates pumpkin and jack-o-lantern collections all around the western suburbs. The locations below will accept your no-longer-needed pumpkins for composting. This keeps your pumpkin out of a landfill and provides rich nutrients for the soil.
Some of these pumpkin smash events will be quick drop-offs. You can either leave your pumpkin with a volunteer, or smash it yourself to add to the community collection. Others are bigger events with fun touches, such as jack-o-lantern races downhill or creative ways to smash those pumpkins.
2025 Pumpkin Smash Events
Pumpkin Smash (Mount Prospect)
November 1, 2025 | 8:00am – 11:00am
Pumpkin and Electronics Recycling Event (Carol Stream Town Center)
November 1, 2025 | 8:00am – 12:00pm
Pumpkin Smash (Bartlett)
November 1, 2025 | 9:00am – 11:00am
Pumpkin Smash: From Ground to Garden (Arlington Heights)
November 1, 2025 | 9:00am – 12:00pm
Catapult a Pumpkin (Lewis University, Romeoville)
November 1, 2025 | 9:00am – 12:00pm
The Lewis University Physics Club will be onsite operating catapults to send those jack-o-lanterns out in style.
Gourd to Ground Pumpkin Smash (Lake View Nature Center, Oakbrook Terrace)
November 1, 2025 | 10:00am – 12:00pm
Pumpkin Shoot (Bolingbrook)
November 1, 2025 | 10:15am – 12:00pm
Register in advance.
Pumpkin Smash and Bash (Park Ridge)
November 1, 2025 | 12:30pm – 1:30pm
Registration is required. Kids can roll their pumpkins down the Centennial Sled Hill in this free contest, then learn all about composting.
Pumpkin Smash at Skokie Farmers Market
November 2, 2025 | 7:30am – 12:30pm
Pumpkin Smash (Westchester Community Church)
November 8 – 9, 2025
Pumpkin Smash (The Community House, Hinsdale)
November 8, 2025 | 8:00am – 12:00pm
Pumpkin Smash (Village Green Park, Glen Ellyn)
November 8, 2025 | 9:00am – 11:00am
Smashing Pumpkin Recycling Event (La Grange Park Public Works, La Grange Park)
November 8, 2025 | 9:00am – 12:00pm
Pumpkin Smash (Lake Katherine, Palos Heights)
November 8, 2025 | 9:00am – 12:00pm
Annual Pumpkin Smash Composting Event (St. John of the Cross, Western Springs)
November 8, 2025 | 9:00am – 12:00pm
Pumpkin Smash Recycling Event (Bensenville)
November 8, 2025 | 9:00am – 12:00pm
Pumpkin Smash (Commuter Parking Lot #9, Wheaton)
November 8, 2025 | 9:00am – 12:00pm
Pumpkin Smash (Villa Park VFW Post 2801)
November 8, 2025 | 9:00am – 12:00pm
Itasca Public Works Pumpkin Smash
November 8, 2025 | 9:00am – 12:00pm
Morton Grove Public Works Pumpkin Smash (North End of Harrer Park, Morton Grove)
November 8, 2025 | 9:00am – 12:00pm
Pumpkin Smash (Rolling Meadows)
November 8, 2025 | 9:00am – 10:00am
Pumpkin Smash (First United Methodist Church, West Chicago)
November 8, 2025 | 9:00am – 12:00pm
Pumpkin Smash Sponsored by SCARCE (Addison)
November 8, 2025 | 9:00am – 12:00pm
Pumpkin Composting Event (Lisle Village Hall)
November 8, 2025 | 9:00am – 12:00pm
Pumpkin Smash (Peterson Elementary School, Naperville)
November 8, 2025 | 9:00am – 12:00pm
Due to construction at the Ron Ory Community Garden Plots, Naperville’s composting event will be at a new location in 2025.
Pumpkin Smash (Geneva)
November 8, 2025 | 9:00am – 12:00pm
Pumpkin Smash (Elmhurst Public Works Facility, Elmhurst)
November 8, 2025 | 9:00am – 12:00pm
Pumpkin Smash (Downers Grove North High School)
November 8, 2025 | 9:00am – 12:00pm
Pumpkin Smash (North Park, Franklin Park)
November 8, 2025 | 10:00am – 12:00pm
Pumpkin Smash (Walker Recreation Center, Burr Ridge)
November 8, 2025 | 10:00am – 12:00pm
Pumpkin Smash (Des Plaines)
November 8, 2025 | 10:00am – 2:00pm
Public Works Open House and Pumpkin Smash (Hoffman Estates)
November 8, 2025 | 10:00am – 12:00pm
Pumpkin Smash (Hidden Oaks Nature Center, Bolingbrook)
November 8, 2025 | 12:00pm – 4:00pm
Pumpkin Smash (Lombard Common, Lombard)
November 9, 2025 | 9:00am – 12:00pm
Getting Your Pumpkin Ready to Compost
Don’t forget to remove any added decorations from your jack-o-lantern before dropping it off at one of these pumpkin smash events. The goal is for the pumpkins to help create nutrient-rich soil, so you don’t want to inadvertently contaminate the compost.
Be sure to remove:
- Candles from the inside of the pumpkin
- Googly eyes
- Plastic ears, noses, etc.
- Sticker decorations
- Yarn and ribbons
In other words, you want to be composting just the pumpkin!
What if you’ve painted your pumpkin? No worries. SCARCE advises that acrylic paint won’t interfere with the composting process.
Besides these fun events, check out our article on fall colors to get the best photo memories. And although it is getting chillier, there’s plenty of outdoor family fun to be had! Tag us on Instagram to show off your autumn adventures.
