The Pumpkin Carving Contest is Back!

Same great prize, but with more templates and carving tips

Carving instructions

Check out our University of Alabama carving templates below (or create your own design). After you’ve created your gourd-geous masterpiece, take a photo and submit your photo, name and location to social@ua.edu, or submit your pumpkin by tagging us and using our hashtag #CrimsonCarvingContest on Twitter or Instagram by 11:59 p.m., Oct. 29. The winner will be announced Thursday, Oct. 31, via UA’s social media platforms.

What you need to know:

1.  Pumpkins must feature an image related to The University of Alabama.
2.  If you want to show off your skills on social media, don’t forget to tag us and use our hashtag.
3.  By submitting your pumpkin photo via email or hashtag, you consent to us potentially republishing the photo.
4.  The pumpkin must be a real pumpkin, and must be carved. Painted, foam or craft pumpkins will not be eligible.

How to carve a great pumpkin

1. Be creative. If the classic jack-o’-lantern is your thing, great, but if you want to go a little crazy, the sky’s the limit. Check out our pumpkin carving templates below if you want to carve outside the box.
2. Really clean out your pumpkin. Don’t leave bits and pieces of pumpkin guts behind. They get in the way while carving and can also make it go bad quickly.
3. You don’t really need a whole kit of bright orange, plastic tools. You can probably find some fun tools in your kitchen. But, if you’re going to splurge, that battery-powered saw is worth it.
4. Get funky. Go for a misshapen pumpkin and make it something unique.
5. Check out the farmer’s market for fun colored pumpkins.

Competition rules

ELIGIBILITY: This contest is open to all Alabama fans located within the United States.

TWO WAYS TO ENTER: (a) Submit a photo of your Bama-themed pumpkin to social@ua.edu with your name and location, or (b) Post your photo on social media, tagging The University of Alabama and using our hashtag. Entries must be the sole work of the contestant.

Entries may not include: (a) obscene, indecent, discriminatory, or insensitive depictions or images; (b) profanity or other material deemed inappropriate or offensive. If an entry includes any of the prohibited elements above, the entry and contestant will be disqualified.

**By submitting an entry, contestant acknowledges that the entry may be posted on UA’s website or social media channels. Not all entries are guaranteed to be posted.

PRIZES: one (1) Grand Prize winner will be awarded a prize pack from The University of Alabama Supply Store, along with the opportunity to act as the judge in next year’s competition. Two (2) Honorable Mentions will be awarded a campus beauty print (selected and taken by a staff photographer with the Division of Strategic Communications).

JUDGING: The previous year’s winner will be given the opportunity to judge all entries for the current year’s competition. In the event that the previous winner declines or is unable to serve as the judge, entries will be evaluated by the social media team within UA’s Division of Strategic Communications.