Jack-O'-Lanterns To Meet Their Fate At Pumpkin Smash In Woodridge

WOODRIDGE, IL — Now that Halloween has passed, those fast-decaying Jack-o'-Lanterns are ready to be repurposed. SCARCE and the Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana will host a free pumpkin smash event Nov. 4 and Nov. 5 in Woodridge to give residents a chance to unload their unwanted gourds.

At the event, which will be held at Camp Greene Wood from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday and from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, attendees can drop their pumpkins from high atop a ladder or use a hammer to smash them. The smashed pumpkins will be used as compost to help reduce landfill accumulation.

“Countless pumpkins end up in landfills every fall and our team at Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana is so proud to collaborate with SCARCE to host our 5th Annual Pumpkin Smash,” Lauren Somogyi, Outdoor Program Manager and Director of Camp Greene Wood told Patch.

Somogyi added, “Composting exponentially helps the health of our environment and that perfectly aligns with our mission. Last year we were able to compost 5,740 pounds of pumpkin and hope to surpass that number in 2022.”

What: Pumpkin Smash Event

When: Nov. 4 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. and Nov. 5 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Where: Camp Greene Wood, 3125 71st St., Woodridge