Pumpkin Toss Day
About Pumpkin Toss Day
When is Pumpkin Toss Day? This holiday is always observed on November 3
A few days before Halloween, you lovingly carved out pumpkin faces. After that, you placed the Jack ‘O Lanterns on your front porch and lit a candle inside on Halloween night. Then, they glowed with pride! However, a few days after Halloween they are now coated with black mold on the inside. And the Jack O’ Lantern’s face is sagging a little more each day. Sadly it’s time for them to go. Pumpkin Toss Day comes along at just the right time. On this November 3 holiday, we toss them out before they turn into smelly mush on the porch.
The primary objective of this holiday is to toss carved pumpkins, as they are quickly rotting on your front porch. You can also toss uncarved pumpkins, too. However, they are an important part of the Thanksgiving scene. So, why not keep some uncarved pumpkins to decorate the inside of your home and your yard? Afterwards, you can toss them on the day after Thanksgiving. Then, the Christmas holiday decorations go up and take center stage for the rest of the year.
On this holiday, you are encouraged to find ways to play with them one last time. We offer some ideas in the next section below. Then, it’s time to say goodbye. If at all possible, avoid sending them to the waste stream. Rather, look for ways to dispose of them in an environmentally friendly way. Pumpkins are eco-friendly.
Today’s Band Selection: Smashing Pumpkins, an American rock band from Chicago.
Pumpkin Kind of Holidays
It comes as no surprise that there are several pumpkin-related holidays. And, they are not all in October. You can, and should, enjoy them all!
Canadian Thanksgiving Day – Pumpkins are a big part of this holiday for our friends up north.
Carve a Pumpkin Day – It’s always a fun day as we make Jack ‘O Lanterns and munch on roasted pumpkin seeds.
Halloween – Naturally, it’s a pumpkin kind of day.
Pumpkin Destruction Day – A similar, yet different holiday.
National Pumpkin Day – Have a little pumpkin pie with your shipped cream.
Pumpkin Spice Day – It’s in many foods and drinks all Fall long.
Thanksgiving – They are a huge part of the Thanksgiving season.
How to Celebrate Pumpkin Toss Day
We encourage you to celebrate and enjoy Pumpkin Toss Day. Use this holiday as one more opportunity to play with pumpkins before you dispose of them in an environmentally friendly way. Then, when you are done, so is the Jack O’ Lantern.
Here are some ideas:
- Put a candle inside and light it up one more time.
- Feed the deer. Simply, place them where the deer will find them. If they come through your backyard, place them there. Then, watch as the deer chow down!
- Hold a Pumpkin Toss party. Literally toss them. Give a prize to the person who tosses them the farthest.
- Place them into a composter to feed your garden plants.
- Let them rot in your garden.
- If you do not have a garden, give them to a friend who does.
- Donate healthy, uncut and unblemished pumpkins to your local zoo. Elephants, rhinos, and hippos are among the animals who eat them.
- Take them to your town’s recycling center.
- Use uncarved, healthy pumpkins in a recipe. Find Pumpkin Recipes.
Pumpkin Toss Day Humor
“It is not the strongest pumpkin grower that survives, not the most intelligent, but the grower most responsive to change.” – – Charles Darwin, Theory of Pumpkin Evolution
“I never met a pumpkin I didn’t like.” – – Jack B. Little
” People who grow pumpkins are out of their gourd!” – – Author Unknown
“Some men see pumpkins as they are and ask why, I dream pumpkins that never were and ask “Why not”?” – – U.S. President John F. Kennedy dreaming about a 2,000 pounder in the oval office one January.
Find more humorous Pumpkin Quotables.
History and Origin of Pumpkin Toss Day
Bob Matthews from Rochester, NY, and owner of Holiday Insights, created this holiday in 2025. The main goal of this holiday is to toss away Halloween pumpkins before they rot into a smelly mess. According to Matthews, the objective of this holiday is to have fun with pumpkins one more time as we toss them out. He discourages tossing them in the trash can. Rather, find ways to dispose of them in an environmentally friendly way.
Matthews chose the date of November 3 for this holiday because just a few days after Halloween carved pumpkins are already showing major signs of decay.
This holiday is similar to, yet different from Pumpkin Destruction Day, which is celebrated later in the month. That holiday is a little-known event. Matthews goes on to say that a carved pumpkin would be mush by the time this holiday comes along.
Finally, Matthews said the ultimate destination for pumpkins should be back into the environment. They are environmentally clean. If possible, they should never go into the waste stream.
This Day in History
In addition to Pumpkin Toss Day, here are some things that happened on this day:
- Clarence Birdseye markets frozen peas. (1952)
- The Wizard of Oz is televised for the first time. (1956)
- Roseanne Barr, Emmy-winning actress, comedian was born on this day in (1952)
Related Articles
People who like Pumpkin Toss Day will also like:
Pumpkin Recipes – Certainly, this holiday must be celebrated with one of several dozen pumpkin recipes.
Pumpkin Trivia – Be the subject matter expert.
More November 3 Holidays
In addition to Pumpkin Toss Day, h ere are more November 3 holidays and events we’re sure you will enjoy.
Sandwich Day – We hope you are hungry on this holiday.
More About Today
This Day in History – Indeed, many other important events occurred on this date.
Famous December Birthdays – Did you ever wonder what famous people share your birth date? If so, then find out now!
Flower of the Day: Lavender
Recipe of the Day: Spiced Pumpkin Raisin Bread
Ecards Send a free Ecard for Pumpkin Toss Day or just about any November calendar holiday, occasion, observance, or event. Undoubtedly, it’s fun for both the sender and the recipient.
Holiday Insights, where every day in November is a holiday, a bizarre or wacky day, an observance, or a special event. Thus, please join us in the daily calendar fun each and every day of the year.
Did You Know? Moreover, in addition to Pumpkin Toss Day, there are literally thousands of daily holidays, special events, and observances, more than one for every day of the year. and many of these holidays are new. People and organizations are creating new holidays regularly. November holidays are no exception. Consequently, at Holiday Insights, we take great efforts to thoroughly research and document the details of each one, as completely and accurately as possible.
