Pumpkin carving planned

Pumpkins will be turned into works of art at a pumpkin carving gala Saturday at Santa Fe Park in Peabody. Sunflower Theatre is sponsoring the event in exchange for donations to its renovation project.

Shirley Davis will provide stencils, child-safe tools, and pumpkin knives for children and adults to participate.

“I’ve had a lot of grandkids come to my house and carve pumpkins over the years, and I’ve saved the carving tools from year to year,” she said. “Then I have some professional carving tools. I’ve always kind of liked to carve pumpkins.”

Markers and stickers for pumpkin decoration will also be provided, as well as water for hand-washing and buckets to collect pumpkin guts.

Participants should bring their own pumpkins and chairs, and children 9 and younger should bring an adult. Finger food to snack on while carving will be available.

Carving starts at 2:30 p.m. If weather isn’t permitting, carving will be moved into Pop’s Diner — with plenty of tablecloths.

Davis is aiming to collect as many pumpkin seeds as possible to roast. Other pumpkin scraps are to be given to Marilyn Jones to feed her goats and chickens.