Run a Gourd-eous Pumpkin Decorating Contest for Elementary Kids

A pumpkin decorating contest is the fall event that checks every box: safe, inclusive, wildly creative, and easy to scale for elementary-age kids. With a no-carve format and a few smart planning moves, you’ll bring your community together for spooky treats, sparkles, and a whole lot of school spirit.

In this guide, you’ll find everything you need to pull off a fall-tastic event. From the best pumpkin decorating party supplies and kid-friendly pumpkin decorating contest categories, to a fair judging rubric and safety guidelines, we’ll scoop out all of the details so you can host the ultimate event. We’ll even show you how to raise school funds for pumpkins and keep logistics delightfully simple with Cheddar Up. 

Are you feeling PUMPED to get your pumpkin decorating contest rolling for the kiddos? Let’s make this your school’s new favorite fall tradition.

Grab your leash and your furry friend, and let’s jump right in!

It’s no secret that you want your school’s pumpkin decorating contest to shine as bright as a well-lit Jack-o-Lantern on Halloween. 

To set yourself up for success, you will need a clear timeline, safety-first mindset, and budget earmarked for both supplies and smiles. Here’s a quick to-do list of what you’ll need to set up to make your fall festivities a smashing success.

• Pick the date and format. Most pumpkin decorating contests can be done at school during class time or after school with parent involvement. Choose an indoor space so pumpkins can dry easily.
• Define your rules. Keep it no-carve for safety. Determine allowed materials and a final due date for your students’ pumpkins.
• Create your Cheddar Up Collection. Build a collections page with entry items (such as pumpkin purchases and art supplies donations fund) and add custom forms for student names, grades, and permission to display.
• Recruit judges and volunteers. Aim for a balanced panel (teachers, staff, community members). Assign helpers for check-in, crowd flow, and photo sharing.
• Finalize categories and rubric. Publish your pumpkin decorating contest categories and the judging criteria in advance so families know what “great” looks like.
• Promote everywhere. School newsletters, flyers, morning announcements, and class reminder threads are your best friends. Make sure parents are aware of your school’s pumpkin decorating party!
• Stage the space. Numbered tags, display tables, and a clearly labeled judging zone make the day feel official and fair.
• Celebrate big. Host an awards moment for ‘Best in Patch’ pumpkins, snap photos, and thank volunteers and sponsors.

Planning a pumpkin decorating party for kids is certainly a treat, but there are also some tricks you should avoid to ensure a safe and fun decorating experience.

For little artists under the age of 12, a no-carve rule is your best friend. Skip the knives, sharp skewers, and pointy objects altogether! Instead, focus on paint, glitter, safety scissors, and adhesives. 

Next, use non-toxic, water-based acrylic paint and avoid hot glue guns for young grades (glue dots, mod podge, and school glue are great alternatives). 

Finally, avoid any aerosol spray paints or spray-on glitter, and allow ample drying time so little hands don’t get sticky or covered in wet paint!

• Add some color: Non-toxic acrylic paint, paint pens, washable markers, chalk markers, and sealers like Mod Podge (water-based).
• Stuck on you like glue: School glue, glue dots, double-sided tape, masking tape, painter’s tape, fall-themed stickers. 
• Get crafty with craft paper: foam shapes, craft paper, tissue paper, construction paper, scrapbook paper.
• Too cool with texture: Felt, fabric scraps, burlap, ribbon, twine, yarn, pom-poms, pipe cleaners (chenille stems), clothespins.
• Go for the giggles with googly eyes: sequins, buttons, beads, bottle caps, cupcake liners, paper straws.
• Never underestimate natural elements: dried leaves, pinecones, twigs, acorns (check allergy policies), mini gourds, moss.
• Give some assistance with kid-friendly tools: kid-safe scissors, stencils, brushes, aprons, table coverings, trays for drying.

Clever categories and transparent criteria will keep your pumpkin decorating contest fun and fair.

As a good rule of thumb, make sure your contest categories are age-appropriate for each school grade. For example, mix age bands (K–2, 3–5) with thematic categories so younger students aren’t competing head-to-head with older grades. 

Here are some categories and themes that your children will surely love:

• Book Characters: Decorate your pumpkin to look like your favorite book character.
• Favorite Class: Theme your pumpkin to match the aesthetic of your favorite class. 
• Moment in History: Encourage kids to remember their history lessons with time-period masterpieces (go for decades like groovy ‘70s, or Roman and Greek-period fun).
• Fall Harvest: Go for anything fall, from delicious Halloween candy to beautiful fall leaves.
• School Spirit: Make your pumpkin match school colors, mascot, and school pride.
• Animals in the Wild: Turn your pumpkin into a wild safari.
• Under the Sea: Paint and create sharks, tropical fish, sea turtles, and sandy shores.
• Out of This World: ‘Phone home’ with extraterrestrial landscapes and solar systems
• Foodie Fun: Tickle your taste buds with kid-favorite foods and culinary delights.

You can also create skill-neutral categories like “Most Whimsical,” “Best Use of Recycled Materials,” or “Most Unexpected Texture.” If you need category brainstorming fuel, adapting ideas from creative costume category inspiration can spark fresh angles for your pumpkin lineup.

Keep judging kind, age-aware, and consistent. Remember, creativity in young children looks different at each grade level, so make sure to adjust judging requirements for each age. 

For starters, use a simple scoring rubric with clear definitions, and train judges to score independently before discussing ties. 

Here’s the biggest tip: Number pumpkins instead of using names for blind scoring. This keeps everything fair and free from bias!

Everyone is probably wondering how to win the pumpkin decorating contest.

Share these kid-friendly tips in your event flyer:

• Pick a design that fits the theme, sketch first, and choose 2–3 colors that pop.
• Add texture (felt, yarn, leaves) and a short title card that tells your pumpkin’s “story.”
• Keep finishes neat: wipe smudges, glue carefully, and give yourself drying time.
• Most of all, make it yours! Judges love originality and a confident point of view.

This gives your kiddos a good idea of what to do to have a chance of winning the big contest!

Budget and Prizes Kids Will Love

Small prizes go a long way with elementary kids. Think colorful ribbons, certificates, school swag, goodie bags with fun fall treats (mini toys, fall-themed pencils, stickers), or $10–$25 gift cards to a local sweets or ice cream shop (it is Halloween-time, after all). 

You can even take photos of the stand-out squashes for the yearbook or feature them in the school newsletter!

Parents, teachers, and students alike all go crazy for fun events that put them in the spirit of the season. If you want your pumpkin decorating contest to be a success, the biggest step is to make sure everyone is aware of the event!

Use a mix of visuals and reminders: teaser photos (last year’s pumpkins or staff-created examples), morning announcements, teacher emails, and a countdown in the school newsletter. 

If you’re pairing this event with fall fundraising, consider simple ideas from these Halloween fundraising ideas that fit school communities. Combined with the right advertising, your fundraising and pumpkin decorating contest are sure to be a school-wide hit.

Depending on the size of your pumpkin decorating contest, buying pumpkins for all of the children might feel like a daunting task. Here’s the good news: you don’t have to do it alone. You can ask parents (and the school community) to contribute what they can to help fund your festivities with Cheddar Up.

Gather Fall Funds with Cheddar Up

Cheddar Up is built for school groups and PTAs, making your pumpkin party logistics a breeze:

• Collections page: Set up a polished collection page with entry options (by grade or theme), optional pumpkin purchases, and a “Donate Craft Supplies” item. Add custom forms for student details and permissions, all in one place.
• Deadline management: Set automatic close dates for registration, supply orders, and Fan Favorite voting. No more chasing late forms.
• Easy payments: Families can pay by credit card, Apple Pay, Google Pay, or eCheck (on Pro and Team plans) without creating an account. You’ll see every payment and form in a tidy dashboard, ready to export.
• Day-of tools: Generate QR codes for quick check-in and use itemized lists to verify entries by class. Add your event to a Group Page to keep all fall activities in one hub.

Curious how it works end-to-end? Join Our Next Live Learning Session and see how organizers streamline registration and reporting in minutes.

Day of the Pumpkin Decorating Contest: What To Do

Finally, the big day is here! What should you do to make the contest fun and flawless for everyone?

First, arrive early with volunteers to set up labeled tables by grade band or theme. Check in pumpkins with a quick QR code or roster, assign number tags, and place entries with enough space between them to prevent accidental bumps. Keep a drying table for last-minute fixes, then close the decorating area before judging so entries can set.

Next, stage judging in a calm zone where judges can work independently. Post a small sign with the rubric so families know what matters. For “Fan Favorite,” offer one voting token per attendee or a QR code form that limits entries to one vote per device. 

Finally, let all of the classes parade through the ‘pumpkin patch’ to see all of the entries. Then plan a short ceremony for awards and photos. Kids adore recognition like “Most Whimsical” or “Best Book Character.”

Pump Up Your Pumpkin Decorating Contest with Cheddar Up

Now is the perfect time to host a pumpkin decorating contest to usher in the fall season and give your kiddos a stage to shine. See how easy it is to collect payments and launch your pumpkin decorating party for kids with Cheddar Up. Sign up for free and get started today!