First City Art Center’s 20th Annual Pumpkin Patch
Spooky season is creeping in, and Pensacolians are already getting into the Halloween spirit. Celebrants are planning costumes, piling up candy and decking their homes out with delightfully frightful decor. And, of course, no Halloween display is complete without a pumpkin — or even a whole patch!
This year, the First City Art Center (FCAC) is hosting its 20th Annual Glass and Ceramic Pumpkin Patch, bringing together colorful, one-of-a-kind creations by local artists.
What began as a small gathering of artists at FCAC’s original location has grown into a much-anticipated community event and fundraiser. FCAC and its artists have gone from selling 300 pumpkins after their very first patch to selling an impressive 5,600 pumpkins last year.
Just as the selection of artists and their pumpkins has grown over the years, so has FCAC. This annual event has significantly contributed to the development of their arts education programs, as well as spreading awareness of the importance of art and encouraging local artists to grow their exposure and abilities.
“The 20th Anniversary Pumpkin Patch is a beloved part of the fabric of our community,” FCAC Executive Director Bart Hudson said. “It represents a community that is committed to the arts and enjoys the creativity of their neighbors. Certainly, it is about the pumpkins, but it is also about the greater Pensacola area coming together for a stunning experience of artistry.”
FCAC’s Glass and Ceramic Pumpkin Patch returns Oct. 9–10 with a new assortment of glass-blown and sculpted pumpkins. The event kicks off with a preview party Oct. 9 from 5 to 8 pm, featuring music and live art demonstrations. Preview party guests get an early look at the patch and can purchase up to two pumpkins per guest.
On Oct. 10, the patch opens to the public from 10 am to 2 pm for a free general admission sale, with no limit on the number of pumpkins guests can purchase.
Local ceramic artists and glassblowers from the FCAC community pour their talent and creativity into crafting 6,000 expressive pumpkins for the event each year. They handcraft a colorful collection of glass and ceramic gourds in all colors, shapes, sizes and patterns.
“Each artist works at their own pace,” Hudson said. “What is often lost in the narrative of the creation is the time spent by the artist in learning and perfecting their craft. They spend years on rotten pumpkins before achieving the Great Pumpkin.”
Each pumpkin has a different vibe, providing a unique flare to your Halloween decor and boasting a longer lifespan than a normal pumpkin.
Whether you buy a gourd you adore or just admire the patch, you will be supporting local artists by checking out this event.
“Our artists are amazing,” Hudson said. “With varying degrees of experience, they each bring an absolutely unique approach to their art. The artists come from all backgrounds — students, IT folks, physicians, teachers, lawyers, members of the military and the list goes on. We also have a couple of artists that are making their livelihood with their art. They work on their pumpkins all year to be ready for the harvest.”
Other activities will also run alongside the pumpkin sale. FCAC’s award-winning children’s programming is available to provide fun activities for kids during the event. Glassblowers and ceramicists will demonstrate their craft live during the event, giving the community a glimpse into the hard work and precision that goes into their creations.
Food trucks are also on-site to provide patch-goers a reprieve from pumpkin-picking.
The pumpkin patch is FCAC’s largest annual fundraiser and outreach event, benefitting both the center and the artists who create the pumpkins. Artists receive 70% of the proceeds while the remaining 30% goes directly to FCAC to support arts education classes, community outreach programs and scholarships for students in need. Attending this event is a great way to give back to FCAC and its artists, while also supporting arts education in our community.
Pumpkin prices begin at $20 during both the preview party and the general admissions sale. Preview party tickets are $45 for FCAC members and $50 for non-members, while children receive free admission. The preview party ticket price does not include the two pumpkins each partygoer is allotted to purchase. Guests can also purchase two additional pumpkins by making a $15 donation to FCAC at checkout.
In addition to music and live art demonstrations, guests will also enjoy complementary beer and wine from Pensacola Bay Brewery, available for those 21 years and older, alongside other refreshments for partygoers of all ages.
FCAC is also looking for patch-goers old and new to share their FCAC pumpkin patch stories and favorite pumpkins to connect with the community. Stories and photos showing how you began collecting pumpkins, what your favorite pumpkin from the patch is or whether you prefer glass or ceramics are just a few examples of stories that FCAC is interested in seeing. Send your photos and stories to [email protected] if you are interested in sharing your pumpkin passion.
“We want our community to know how grateful we are for the support of 20 years of The Pumpkin Patch,” Hudson said. “This area loves art and artists. After 20 years, simple math tells us that there are tens of thousands FCAC pumpkins in our homes. What a wonderful statement to our artists and all those that love First City Art Center.”
The 20th Annual Glass and Ceramic Pumpkin Patch will be held at First City Art Center, located at 1060 N. Guillemard St. in downtown Pensacola. Parking is available across the surrounding neighborhood. For tickets and complete event details, including available volunteer opportunities, visit firstcityart.org and follow @firstcityartcenter on Facebook or Instagram.