“Each year, the Great Pumpkin rises out of the pumpkin patch that he thinks is the most sincere . . .”
-Linus
We’re in the “-ber” months. OctoBER brings on pumpkin patches and treats around Charleston. For us, October means we get pumpkins to paint and watch It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown.
We love Charlie Brown. His optimism with his sense of sensitivity is our personal favorite. We have always tuned in to watch all the Charlie Brown holiday favorites in our home. The Peanuts is a classic that gives lessons of life in each episode.
Instead of carving pumpkins, every year we paint them. It keeps the pumpkin longer, especially in our often heat-filled fall. We tune in to watch It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown, grab the paints, and snack on some Charlie Brown-inspired treats: chocolate-covered peanuts, kettle corn, and Oreo cake bites resembling rocks for when Charlie Brown went trick-or-treating.
Tips for Painting Pumpkins
Painting pumpkins is easy, but I’ve included a few helpful tips for your own pumpkin painting night.
1. Clean and Seal Your Pumpkins
Get all the dirt and debris off of them. Then seal your pumpkin with a base coat. Let it air dry before painting.
One of our favorite scenes in It’s the Great Pumpkin is when Linus jumps into a pile of leaves . . .
“never jump in a pile of leaves with a wet sucker.” -Linus
You don’t want all the dirt getting stuck on your pumpkin, so a good clean and base coat does the trick.
2. Be Creative
There is no wrong way to paint pumpkins. Grab your paint and paint your design. Charlie Brown cut too many holes in his Halloween costume, but it works out in the end. There is no wrong way! Air dry when done.
3. Final Seal and Decorate
When the paint on your pumpkin has air-dried, give it a final seal with your sealer as a top coat and let that dry. Decorate your pumpkin with stickers or pumpkin faces you can find at your local craft store. Set it out for display!
Lastly, tune in to watch It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown, and share in the wholesome humor as your own yearly tradition for fall.
