Saturday, November 6, 2021 is the big day to smash your pumpkins! Every year, the Saturday after Halloween, SCARCE coordinates pumpkin collections all around the western suburbs. These locations 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’e also included a few extra events happening on other days, so make sure to check those if November 6 doesn’t work with your schedule.
2021 Pumpkin Smash Events
Great Pumpkin Roll (Oak Brook Park District)
November 3, 4:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Pumpkin Smash (Naperville at Camp Greene Wood)
November 5, 2021, 6:00pm – 8:00 pm | November 6, 2021, 2:00 -4:00pm and 6:00pm- 8:00pm
Pumpkin Shoot (Hidden Oaks Nature Center Bolingbrook)
November 6, 2021, 1:00pm – 3:00pm
Pumpkin, Textiles, and Electronics Recycling Event (Carol Stream Water Reclamation Center)
November 6, 2021, 8:00am – 12:00pm
SCARCE Pumpkin Smash (SCARCE, Addison)
November 6, 2021, 9:00am – 12:00pm
Pumpkin Smash (Village Green Park, Glen Ellyn)
November 6, 2021, 9:00am – 11:00am
Pumpkin Smash (Naperville at the Ron Ory Community Garden Plots)
November 6, 2021, 9:00am – 12:00pm
Pumpkin Smash (Bensenville Public Works)
November 6, 2021, 9:00am – 12:00pm
Pumpkin Smash (Hinsdale South High School, Darien)
November 6, 2021, 9:00am – 12:00pm
Pumpkin Smash (Downers Grove South High School)
November 6, 2021, 9:00am – 12:00pm
Pumpkin Smash (Elmhurst Public Works)
November 6, 2021, 9:00am – 12:00pm
Pumpkin Smash (Pushing the Envelope Farm, Geneva)
November 6, 2021, 9:00am – 12:00pm
Pumpkin Smash (Glen Ellyn – St. Mark’s Church, Glen Ellyn)
November 6, 2021, 9:00am – 12:00pm
Pumpkin Composting Event (Lisle Village Hall)
November 6, 2021, 9:00am – 12:00pm
Pumpkin Smash (Lombard Common, East Parking Lot)
November 6, 2021, 9:00am – 12:00pm
Pumpkin Smash (Roosevelt Middle School, River Forest)
November 6, 2021, 9:00am – 12:00pm
Pumpkin Smash (Ron Ory Community Garden Plots, Naperville)
November 6, 2021, 9:00am – 12:00pm
Pumpkin Smash (St. Charles Public Works)
November 6, 2021, 9:00am – 12:00pm
Pumpkin Smash (Villa Park Village Hall)
November 6, 2021, 9:00am – 12:00pm
Pumpkin Smash (First United Methodist Church, West Chicago)
November 6, 2021, 9:00am – 12:00pm
Pumpkin Smash (St. John of the Cross, Western Springs)
November 6, 2021, 9:00am – 12:00pm
Pumpkin Smash (Commuter Parking Lot #9, Wheaton)
November 6, 2021, 9:00am – 12:00pm
Pumpkin Drop-off (Warrenville Park District)
November 6, 2021, 9:00am – 3:00pm
Pumpkin Smash (La Grange Park Public Works)
November 6, 2021, 10:00am – 12:00pm
Pumpkin Smash (Westchester Community Church)
November 6, 2021, 9:00am – 11:00am and November 7, 2021, 9:00am – 11:00 am
Pumpkin Smash (Meadowlakes Park, Aurora)
November 7, 2021, 12:00pm – 2:00pm
It’s getting chillier, but there’s still plenty of outdoor family fun to be had! Tag us on Instagram to show off your autumn adventures.