Where to paint your own pumpkin on Long Island
Jameson Velasquez, 4, of Jackson Heights, paints a pumpkin at an event at Old Westbury Gardens on Oct. 16. Credit: Linda Rosier
Roses are red, violets are blue and pumpkins are orange — but they're getting much more colorful as of late.
As pumpkin painting catches on, the squash is becoming a canvas on which everything from Halloween images to pure imagination is painted. Trick-or-treaters and crafters young and old can still take part in the Halloween tradition by painting their own pumpkin, taking a class on fun ways to design one or buying it pre-painted.
"I always loved witches and Halloween. It’s my favorite holiday. " says Laura Erwin, education manager at Old Westbury Gardens which will host a pumpkin painting event Oct. 23. "I give people tips on how to paint and how to use their paint brush, but I don’t tell them what to paint."
In addition to painting spooky shapes for Halloween, Erwin suggests fall themes. "That way it can last onward from Halloween," Erwin says. "You can paint one side with a Halloween design and one side with a Thanksgiving design."
Particularly for children, rather than carving which requires sharp implements, painting provides a safer, if potentially messy, alternative. "Painting pumpkins is easier. You set up the paint, let kids go crazy and they love it," Erwin says. "We have kids as young as two or three. They love to put their handprints on the pumpkins and use finger paints."
Here are places you can still purchase a spooky pumpkin or take a class to create your own masterpiece:
Make pumpkin art at Old Westbury Gardens
The Barn at Orchard Hill, 71 Old Westbury Rd., Old Westbury
Cousins Marianthi Meskouris, 2, and Chris Meskouris, 5, paint their pumpkins at an event at Old Westbury Gardens on Oct. 16. Credit: Linda Rosier
The garden provides pumpkins — typically about 6-inches high — acrylic paint, stencils and stickers to dress up the gourds. Erwin says young children, teenagers, parents and some adults arrive for the event that includes admission. Parents sometimes bring their own aprons. Older painters draw freehand and use stencils including bats, which are the most popular, says Erwin. Painting a pumpkin typically takes 30 minutes to an hour. Then you wait for it to dry.
"If you come earlier, you can come to the gardens and then do the pumpkin painting," Erwin suggests.
Class 4 to 5:30 p.m. Oct. 23; $20 includes garden admission, registration required. Materials and 6-inch pumpkin provided.
More info 516-333-0048, oldwestburygardens.org
Paint pictures of gourds at The Muse Paint Bar
837 Franklin Ave., Garden City
Adults can get in on the Halloween fun and paint pictures of pumpkins on canvas during a step-by-step instruction class while drinking a glass of vino.
Class 3 to 5 p.m. Oct. 24. $40, registration required.
More info 888-607-6873, musepaintbar.com
Paint a pumpkin at Planting Fields Arboretum
Laundry Building, 1395 Planting Fields Rd., Oyster Bay
The Halloween Family Fun Night is centered around the dissection of an owl pellet, but that's all before the pumpkin painting fun begins. Two adults can accompany one child per admission ticket.
Class 5 to 7 p.m. Oct. 30
Cost $25 per child, for ages 3 to 18; registration required.
More info 516-922-9210, plantingfields.org
Buy pumpkins with spooky designs at Stew Leonard's
1897 Front St., East Meadow
For those who would rather buy pre-painted pumpkins than do it themselves, the East Meadow location sells pumpkins decorated with faces, including vampires. Still, store manager Dawn Levy says there’s something magical about painting it yourself. "The kids enjoy painting the pumpkins," Levy says. "And the parents like to get involved."
Cost Painted pumpkins start at $5.99
More info 516-394-9001, stewleonards.com
