Anderson Gardens displays local students’ carved pumpkins

ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO) — Creative talents from across the Stateline were on display at Anderson Garden’s “Path of Pumpkins” on Friday.

It’s the fourth year the gardens are hosting the event, which was inspired by a similar event at the Chicago Botanical Gardens.

14 Stateline schools each have up to 15 carved, sculpted and painted pumpkins on display.

“We opened it up to the middle and high school students. And whether it was an art class, or a club, or a collection of students that just got together after school to do it. There really was no specific criteria on who can participate,” said Anderson Gardens Chief Operating Officer John Gleason. “We’ve had individual 8th-grade classes participate, we’ve had the student councils participate, we had a sculpting club.”

Anyone who attends the exhibit will get a voting card to pick their favorite displays. The three schools with the most votes will win a cash prize.

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