When October 1st comes along, so does the season of apple cider, spooky decorations, and great pumpkin carvings displayed on every porch.

What you’ll need for the perfect pumpkin:

• Pumpkin
• Pattern- find one online or create your own
• Carving knife
• Water/bleach mixture

To have the most eye-catching pumpkin on the block, there are some key steps that must followed.

1. Make sure to wash your pumpkin of to create a clean canvas for your Halloween art.
2. When you create your design, you can find and use a pattern online, or create your own.
3. Once it comes time to actually carve  your design use a sawing motion to cut clean lines and avoid jagged edges.
4. After you’ve flawlessly carved out your jack-o-lantern, make your art last longer by washing the pumpkin with a mixture of one gallon water and one teaspoon bleach to prevent mold from forming.

At the end of all the fun that comes with carving the perfect pumpkin, is the bright orange insides of your jack-o-lantern. The most popular way to utilize the remains of your pumpkin is to enjoy the tasty seeds inside. The best way to do this is to let them dry out for a little while, then bake them in your oven at 300℉ for about 45 minutes. Once they are nice and golden brown, get creative and add salt and butter or cinnamon and brown sugar for a sweet twist. If you want to add even more flavor make a trail mix with raisins, chocolate chips, granola, or any of your other favorite treats. There are so many creative and useful ways to use the inside of your pumpkin, like making a body scrub, pumpkin spice donuts, and much more.

Here on staff, reporters have many stories and experiences with pumpkin carving.

Tatum Bruno goes with her family to a pumpkin patch each year so they can pick out the perfect pumpkin to transform. Bruno and her extended family get together to have a pumpkin carving fest. They use tools to carve out patterns that they made themselves, and they later enjoy pumpkin pie and baked seeds from their pumpkins.

Sydney Sandrick also spends time with her family to carve pumpkins, and they later bake and eat the seeds. However, Sandrick and her family go to the store to find their perfect pumpkins, and they don’t use patterns to create their designs.

Elizabeth Amaya remembers her favorite designs that her family members made, such as a bat symbol that her mother made, and a goblin face her brother created using a pattern.

Our resident expert in pumpkin carving, Ariana Porras, described how she creates the perfect pumpkin. First, you have to remove the guts of the pumpkin, and make sure to clean your space afterwards because a clean work space is key to carving flawlessly. Next, you’ll want to trace your design on your pumpkin, either using a pattern or drawing freehand. Then, you’ll need to use a sharp tool to poke holes along the design before actually carving it. Once you’ve cut out your design, place a lit candle in the center and watch your artwork light up!