Our Family’s “Pumpkin Day” Tradition (and How You Can Make One, Too)

Every family has those little traditions that start by accident — the ones you don’t plan but somehow become as official as Thanksgiving dinner.

For us, that’s Pumpkin Day.

It started when my oldest kids were tiny — the kind of “tiny” where going to the grocery store and letting them each pick out their own mini pumpkin felt like the start of fall and the best day ever.

So one random October morning, I declared it “Pumpkin Day!” We grabbed tiny pumpkins, a few pumpkin-flavored treats (thank you, Trader Joe’s--iykyk), and laid out a drop cloth on the back porch for painting time. Each kid got to paint their pumpkin however they wanted — abstract masterpieces, silly faces, and paint splatters all made their cute pumpkins come to life.

And that was it. The first official Pumpkin Day was underway. The next year, my kids asked, “When’s Pumpkin Day?” as if it was on the national calendar right between Halloween and Thanksgiving. And from then on, it became a thing — our own cozy, messy, pumpkin-filled family tradition that we look forward to every fall.

I’ve always loved mixing creativity into our everyday life and any excuse for a seasonal craft is always a yes in my book. Even when my kids have kids of their own someday, I dream of us gathered around the table making these same memories together.

So I'm passing these ideas along for you to have in your back pocket when you're looking for a fun activity to add to your season, or something to inspre your own family traditions together.

How Pumpkin Day Has Grown (Along With Our Kids)

As our kids got older, so did Pumpkin Day.
What started as toddler finger-painting pumpkins has evolved into backyard pumpkin Olympics, carving contests, and fall movie marathons complete with caramel popcorn.

One year, we invited Shane’s parents over to be our official judges for a pumpkin-painting contest. Of course, everyone “won” something — “Most Creative,” “Funniest,” “Most colorful", and so on. It was chaotic, hilarious, and one of those days you wish you could bottle up forever.

Another year, we made up the Pumpkin Olympics — which I highly recommend for the best belly laughs and silly memories . Each pair of kids came up with a game that had to include a pumpkin.

Some ideas we've done in the past:

Pumpkin bowling
Ring toss onto the pumpkin stems
Obstacle courses using mini pumpkins
“Mini golf” where the pumpkin was the "hole"
Relay race with pumpkins
Hide and go seek with hiding pumpkins

The possibilities are endless and the more creative you get with it the more fun!

How to Start Your Own “Pumpkin Day” Tradition

If you’re craving something simple, festive, and memorable to do with your family this fall, here are a few easy ways to start your own Pumpkin Day too:

1. Make a Pumpkin or Fall Themed Craft
Keep it simple. Print out a few seasonal coloring pages or printable crafts from my shop, put on a cozy playlist, and add a special treat to eat while you create. It doesn’t take much to make it feel special.

2. Paint Pumpkins (and Make It a Fun Contest)
Grab paint, brushes, and a drop cloth — and if you want to make it extra fun, assign judges! (Hint: grandparents make the best ones.)

3. Create Pumpkin Games
Have everyone invent a game using a pumpkin. The sillier, the better. You’ll be amazed how creative kids can get when pumpkins are involved!

4. Make Pumpkin Treats to Eat
We go all-in with pumpkin pancakes, pumpkin spice banana bread, and even pumpkin curry soup for dinner. (If you've stepped foot in a Trader Joe’s during this season you know they practically sponsor this day in spirit.)

5. End the Night with a Movie
After the sugar high settles, finish the day with a fall or Halloween movie — and don’t forget the caramel corn or pumpkin-spice popcorn and a cozy drink! The little details go a long way and make it all feel extra special.

A Cozy Tradition Worth Keeping

What I love most about Pumpkin Day isn’t just the crafts or treats — it’s watching my kids light up over something simple that brings us together. It’s a reminder that the best memories often come from ordinary moments made special. And if nothing else, this is the heart of all of the creating and playing we're constantly making happen in our home.

So, if this gave you the gentle nudge to make your own day of this and you want to sprinkle a little more creativity into your home this fall, take a peek at what I have in the printable shop to make it easy to create traditions like this without needing to plan for days in advance. The best part of making this tradition is that it doesn't just have to be for October, you can use it all season to enjoy the fall feelings as long as possible.

Here’s to more messy, creative, joy-filled traditions — and maybe your very first Pumpkin Day too! I can't wait to see what you create together!

Don't forget to tag me on Instagram and share your creations so I can see what you come up with!