What's the first thing you think when you see a pumpkin trail event?

[Concestor]

If you see a pumpkin trail being held in October half term, do you think it's related to Halloween or do you think of something else, and if so, what?

Help me resolve a discussion!

What's an Autumn event involving pumpkins that isn't Halloween!

Money making American themed rip off

I would think it was a Halloween children's event that mine are mercifully too old for now.

I'd think it was an October half term event.

My first thought is 'that's cute'.

Last year, there was a pumpkin trail which was an alternative to trick or treating, and it was just people putting pictures of pumpkins in their windows for little ones to make and then spot around the area.

October half term is generally around the end of October where I am, so I've not really thought much difference, though I've seen pumpkin-related events also used for Harvest Festival things earlier in autumn.

@TSSDNCOP

What's an Autumn event involving pumpkins that isn't Halloween!

Autumn?

Pumpkins are an autumn vegetable, so I think in many countries, people just associate pumpkins with autumn rather than just Halloween.

I think pumpkins aren't grown so much in the UK, so maybe people associate them more with Halloween.

I suppose, you could ask about whether tulips are a spring flower or an Easter flower. They can be both, I think.

I'd think it's probably better than a turnip trail event

I’d think ‘ how much is this going to cost me’!

I think people are confusing pumpkin patches with pumpkin trails.

A pumpkin patch is a place where you can go and buy pumpkins. They often have things like hay rides and food for sale to make it more of an experience.

A pumpkin trail is more like an egg hunt.You have to go around and find the pumpkins. Some places, they are just pretty to look at, some places there may be a competition with prizes for finding the pumpkins.

Last year, in my mum's village, they organised a pumpkin trail, so people just put decorations in a window, so people could wander around the village and see them. It was because they didn't want kids doing trick or treating because of COVID.

no idea what it is.
the words mean nothing to me.
i clicked just to see if it was some kind of joke post to make people click to see what it is

Middle of September I'd think autumn, middle of October I'd assume Halloween

I would not know wtf a pumpkin trail was.

Would assume Halloween cos pumpkin.

What else could it be?

Only thing near is bonfire night. Actually maybe celebration for other religion? They don't involve pumpkin round here either afaik.

Why would anyone think autumn out of interest?

I have never heard pumpkins associated with autumn!

They're in the shops for Halloween. You buy them cut bung candle in. Chuck when starts to go mouldy

Autumn is I dunno. Leaves falling, nights Drawing In, cosyness. It's kind of brown? I feel like there's something to do with apples. Not sure why. Yeah it's just about trees really I think?

Why would anyone think autumn out of interest?

Because pumpkins are a vegetable grown in autumn, they are an autumnal colour and the 17th September is way too early for Halloween

I would think, all at the same time really.
late summer/Autumn
USA rural - Midwest or southern states most likely
A pumpkin picking place set up by enterprising/diversifying local farmer in the USA.
For people to pick (lug) pumpkins for cooking as they ripen
For use to carve for doorways for Halloween (USA)

I’ve ‘picked’ pumpkins in the USA. Hence above I guess. But not called ‘trails’.

I definitely would not expect it to be in the uk. Nor Halloween ‘themed’.
Above pp has describe uk event which I’ve never come across and sounds kind of fun. I’d not go if it was some Halloween themed naff thing.

@liveforsummer

Why would anyone think autumn out of interest?

Because pumpkins are a vegetable grown in autumn, they are an autumnal colour and the 17th September is way too early for Halloween

Not here they aren't!

This is a USA thing then?

Not sure why asked on UK site! But given it has been. Would be useful to say USA question in title or something? That's to OP.

To stop all the never heard of it wtf comments!

By the way that response is a bit??? Because pumpkins autumn. Where you live! It's not a universal fact

Pumpkins are normally harvested from the start of autumn, before the first frost.

Pumpkins are as autumn-y as apples and came to Europe in Tudor times, so not exactly new.

We don't surely only have to eat food that was native to Europe since the dawn of time? Please god no, I made Anglo-Saxon stew with the kids once, it was pretty dull.

If you call pumpkins American, you really should also say the same about potatoes, I think they appeared here at a similar time (iirc).

I certainly don’t call pumpkins American but I grew up there with them (and I was thinking the trail was of the orange variety) really central in all sorts of cooking in a way they really weren’t here in the uk. It’s changing obvs. Culturally they have more resonance still in the USA I think. To say nothing of Asian and African varieties/usages etc !

Exactly what @BlackShadowCat said. It’s just the kind of thing they do around here (not in USA). We’ve also had a scarecrow trail and a snowman trail, I think. A combination of entertaining kids and promoting local businesses.

I think it will be a very expensive pumpkin and will avoid it.

Depends on the timing.

If it was now I would assume autumn, (uncarved) pumpkins hidden in windows that children can go looking for, a bit like en egg hunt or treasure trail.

October half term I would associate with Halloween and expect them to be carved/windows decorated in Halloween theme.

If you call pumpkins American, you really should also say the same about potatoes, I think they appeared here at a similar time

Except that pumpkins haven’t caught on in the same way as potatoes. Potatoes are a staple part of our diet, but U.K. supermarkets and greengrocers only really tend go big on pumpkins at Halloween.

@NiceGerbil I live in Scotland, not America. We grow pumpkins here - in autumn.

Halloween. Even if it's not ON Halloween the pumpkin patches etc are all open throughout October and all of October now seems to be Halloween themed.

Halloween 🎃