The big day to smash your pumpkins is Saturday, November 5, 2022! Every year on the Saturday after Halloween, SCARCE coordinates pumpkin and jack-o-lantern collections all around the western suburbs. According to the SCARCE website, during the 2021 Pumpkin Smash, they composted over 242 tons of pumpkins! The locations below will accept your no-longer-needed pumpkins for composting. This keeps your pumpkin out of a landfill and provides rich-nutrients to the soil. Don’t forget to remove candles and any added decorations (paint is okay!) from your jack-o-lantern before dropping it off at one of these convenient locations.
We’ve also included a few extra events happening on other days, so make sure to check those if November 5 doesn’t work with your schedule.
2022 Pumpkin Smash Events
2nd Annual Pumpkin Smash Spooktacular! (Arlington Heights)
October 30, 2022 | 9:00am – 2:00pm
Great Pumpkin Roll (Oak Brook Park District) – SOLD OUT
November 2, 2022 | Beginning at 4:00pm
Registration required.
Pumpkin Smash (Naperville at the Ron Ory Community Garden Plots)
November 5, 2022 | 9:00am – 12:00pm
Pumpkin Smash (Village Green Park, Glen Ellyn)
November 5, 2022 | 9:00am – 11:00am
Pumpkin and Electronics Recycling Event (Carol Stream Town Center)
November 5, 2022 | 8:00am – 12:00pm
Pumpkin Smash Sponsored by SCARCE (Addison)
November 5, 2022 | 9:00am – 12:00pm
Pumpkin Smash (Glen Ellyn – St. Mark’s Church, Glen Ellyn)
November 5, 2022 | 9:00am – 12:00pm
Arlington Heights Pumpkin Smash Pumpkin Recycling Event (Arlington Heights)
November 5, 2022 | 9:00am – 2:00pm
Morton Grove Public Works Pumpkin Smash (North End of Harrer Park, Morton Grove)
November 5, 2022 | 9:00am – 12:00pm
Pumpkin Smash (Tinley Park)
November 5, 2022 | 9:00am – 12:00pm
Pumpkin Smash (Villa Park Village Hall)
November 5, 2022 | 9:00am – 12:00pm
Pumpkin Smash (Lombard Common, East Parking Lot)
November 5, 2022 | 9:00am – 12:00pm
Pumpkin Smash Recycling Event (Bensenville)
November 5, 2022 | 9:00am – 12:00pm
Pumpkin Smash (Roselle)
November 5, 2022 | 10:00am – 1:00pm
Pumpkin Smash (Elmhurst Public Works)
November 5, 2022 | 9:00am – 12:00pm
Recycling Event (Carol Stream)
November 5, 2022 | 8:00am – 12:00pm
Pumpkin Smash (Commuter Parking Lot #9, Wheaton)
November 5, 2022 | 9:00am – 12:00pm
Pumpkin Smash (Westchester Community Church)
November 4 to 6, 2022
No time has been specified; please check the website for updates.
Pumpkin Composting Event (Westmont Public Library)
November 5, 2022 | 9:00am – 12:00pm
Pumpkin Smash and Bash (Park Ridge)
November 5, 2022 | 12:30pm – 1:30pm
Itasca Public Works Pumpkin Smash (Itasca)
November 5, 2022 | 12:30pm – 1:30pm
Skokie Farmers Market (Skokie)
November 6, 2022 | 7:30am – 12:30pm
Smashing Pumpkin Recycling Event (La Grange Park Public Works)
November 5, 2022 | 10:00am – 12:00pm
Pumpkin Smash (Roosevelt Middle School, River Forest)
November 5, 2022 | 9:00am – 12:00pm
Pumpkin Smash (Hinsdale South High School)
November 5, 2022 | 9:00am – 12:00pm
Pumpkin Composting Event (Lisle Village Hall)
November 5, 2022 | 9:00am – 12:00pm
Pumpkin Smash (Mount Prospect )
November 5, 2022 | 9:00am – 12:00pm
Pumpkin Smash (St. John of the Cross, Western Springs)
November 5, 2022 | 9:00am – 12:00pm
Pumpkin Smash 2022 (Bartlett)
November 5, 2022 | 9:00am – 12:00pm
Pumpkin Smash (First United Methodist Church, West Chicago)
November 5, 2022 | 9:00am – 12:00pm
Pumpkin Smash (Downers Grove High School)
November 5, 2022 | 9:00am – 12:00pm
Pumpkin Smash (Hoffman Estates)
November 5, 2022 | 10:00am – 12:00pm
Pumpkin Smash (Barrie Park, Oak Park)
November 5, 2022 | 4:00pm – 5:00pm
Pumpkin Smash (Romeoville)
November 5, 2022 | 9:00am – 12:00pm
Pumpkin Smash (Rolling Meadows)
November 4, 2022, 9:00am – 2:00pm | November 5, 2022, 9:00am – 12:00pm
Pumpkin Composting Event (Pushing the Envelope Farm, Geneva)
November 5, 2022 | 9:00am – 12:00pm
Pumpkin Drop-Off (Warrenville Park District)
November 4, 2022 | 9:00am – 12:00pm
Pumpkin Smash (St. Charles Public Works)
November 5, 2022 | 9:00am – 3:00pm
Pumpkin Smash (Camp Greene Wood, Woodridge)
November 5, 2022 | 2:00pm onwards
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.
