Help Reiman Gardens turn 1000+ pumpkins into hand-carved jack-o-lanterns! 

It takes hundreds of volunteers to carve over 1000 pumpkins in less than 7 days. It takes another 100+ volunteers to support three nights of Spirits in the Gardens.

Individuals and groups are welcome!

All volunteers will receive a free pass to attend Spirits in the Gardens for each shift they participate. 

Activity Descriptions

We’re looking for volunteers to trace spooky, silly, or stunning designs onto pumpkins. No carving. No pumpkin guts. Just fun tunes, chill fall vibes and some seriously satisfying outlines. You can choose the level of design that suits your skills—whether you're a beginner or a tracing pro! 

a group of ISU students work together tracing designs onto pumpkins

🧡 This is a great fit for you if... 

  • You like hands-on, low-mess projects 
  • You have a steady hand and good eye for detail 
  • You are at least 13+ and comfortable using permanent markers on bumpy surfaces 

🚫 This might not be for you if... 

  • You rush through tasks or struggle with precision 
  • You can’t draw a straight line to save your life  
  • You find it frustrating to draw on bumpy surfaces (like pumpkins!) 

Primary Responsibility: Carefully and correctly trace stencil designs onto pumpkins. 

Why It Matters? This is the first and one of the most important steps in creating the magical display of glowing pumpkins for Spirits in the Gardens. By carefully and accurately tracing the designs, you're setting the stage for a stunning final product. Your attention to detail helps ensure each pumpkin looks amazing once it's carved and lit! 

Click here to sign up for shifts!

We need brave souls to gut pumpkins — seeds, slime, stringy insides must go — to get them carving-ready. A Reiman Gardens Pro will use a power tool to cut a hole in each pumpkin and remove most of the guts. It’s up to you to finish the job by scooping out whatever’s left inside. It’s gloriously gross, surprisingly satisfying, and absolutely essential! 

A volunteer covered from head to toe in protective gear, scoops guts out of a hollowed pumpkin.

*We’ll supply all the protective gear you’ll need to face the flying guts. Just bring your spirit—and your scooping arm!  

Primary Responsibility: After correctly placing pumpkins onto the boards to be gutted, ensure that all pulp, seeds and string have been removed. 

Why It Matters: 
No clean pumpkins = no glowing display. Your work will be the messy, mighty foundation for all the pumpkin magic at Spirits in the Gardens. And the carvers will thank you! 

🧡 This is a great fit for you if ... 

  • You’re not afraid to dive in and get messy!  
  • Pumpkin slime doesn’t scare you. 
  • You’re strong enough to lift a hefty pumpkin without flinching. 

🚫This might not be the best fit if… 

  • You have difficulty with repetitive hand movements or gripping tools. 
  • You’re squeamish about slimy, stringy stuff or goop in general! 
  • You hate the smell or feel of pumpkin (because it will be everywhere!) 

We’ll provide everything you need: Protective eye wear, lab coats, gloves, hairnets, shoe covers, and scraping tools. 

Click here to sign up for shifts!

We need to put together a creative crew to help carve out some designs that range from easy breezy to challenge accepted! The pumpkins are pre- stenciled with everything from classic grins to show-stopping, spooky masterpieces. All you need is strong, steady hands and a little patience. So, grab a pumpkin, grab a carving tool (carefully!), and have fun creating the pumpkins that will wow our visitors! 

A volunteer carefully carves a design already drawn onto a pumpkin.

Primary Responsibility: Correctly carve out the shaded areas that are stenciled onto the pumpkins. 

Why it matters: 
Every carved pumpkin becomes part of the magic — spooky, silly, or stunning. Your precision and creativity will bring each design to life for everyone to admire. 

🧡 You’ll love this if you... 

  • Are 13+ and enjoy working with your hands  
  • Can handle a carving tool like a pro (or at least without panic!) 
  • You don’t mind getting your hands a little messy 

⚠️ This might not be for you if... 

  • Sharp tools make you nervous  
  • You rush through things (these pumpkins are masterpieces in progress)  
  • You faint at the sight of pumpkin guts 

We’ll provide everything you need: pre-stenciled pumpkins, carving tools, towels, and latex gloves if you want them. 

Click here to sign up for shifts!

With thousands of visitors pouring in to see our hand-carved jack-o-lanterns, it takes more than our full staff to cover all the corners of the Gardens. Volunteers will welcome guests, provide directions, support events staff, and hand out candy. Shifts are 2-3.5 hours, depending on the night. 

Volunteers dressed up in costume pass out candy to children at Spirits in the Gardens.

Why it matters: 
Ensuring guests feel welcome, making sure they know where they are going, providing guests accessibility assistance, and sending them away with Halloween candy are all part of making sure the event is smooth and enjoyable for all.

🧡 You’ll love this if you... 

  • Enjoy interacting with visitors of all ages.
  • Can stand for up to 3 hours and remain cheerful and helpful.
  • You're ready to pivot to a new role if needed.

⚠️ This might not be for you if... 

  • You're not really a people-person.
  • You get bored easily or are easily distracted.

We'll provide event volunteers with light belts, flash lights, and a backpack for supplies at your station. We'll provide candy for each Candy Factory Station. All volunteers should wear all black or a family-friendly Halloween costume.

Click here to sign up for shifts.

Sign up to volunteer

We need hundreds of volunteers to prepare pumpkins before the event and support our staff during Spirits in the Gardens. Individuals and large groups welcome!

How-to videos (to arrive prepared)

  • This volunteer activity takes place outdoors. In the case of severe weather, we may be relocated indoors (when possible) or cancel (all volunteers will be notified via email of any schedule changes).
  • Volunteers should wear closed-toe/heel shoes (sneakers, hiking or steel-toe boots are a good choice). Pumpkin gutters must wear closed-toed shoes.
  • Reiman Gardens will provide all necessary tools and equipment.
  • Volunteers gutting and carving should be prepared to get a little messy!
  • Please arrive early or by your shift start time.
  • Plan to leave before or by the end of your two hour shift. Due to the high popularity of this event, you must leave at the end of the shift you registered to attend.
  • If you signed up anyone else to attend a shift with you, please forward the URL of this webpage to them as well.
  • Volunteers must be 13+ years to carve and gut. Younger volunteers are welcome to stencil with an adult chaperone also in attendance but are not permitted to gut or carve pumpkins.
  • For those signed up for Friday shifts: We will do our best to reserve pumpkins to last the whole day, but cannot guarantee them. We will email if we need to cancel a shift. 

Reiman Gardens is located at 1407 University Blvd in Ames on the Iowa State University campus, just south of Jack Trice Stadium. 

  • The Gardens is close to several CyRide bus stops including:
    • #3 Blue (near Beach Ave. and Jack Trice Stadium),
    • #6 Brown (near Beach Ave. and University Blvd.),
    • #9 Plum (near University Blvd. and 16th St.), and
    • #23 Orange (near Beach Ave. and Jack Trice Stadium). 
  • Free parking is available in the S1 and S2 Parking Lots.
  • Reiman Gardens is around 1.4 miles/30 minute walk from the Memorial Union.
  • Bike racks are also available onsite.
  • SafeRide is available to transport anyone to and from areas on campus after 6 p.m.

Enter through the main entrance to the Gardens. You may bypass the front desk and anyone in line to pay for admission. You will see the Welcome Station in the lobby. Check-in with staff, then proceed.

For event check in/out: All volunteers* will sign in using a QR code. Please bring your phone to scan the code.

*Reiman Gardens volunteers with a Better Impact account may use this method to sign in if they prefer.

If you need a signature to show proof of your service, please let the person know when you check out and pick up your Preview Night voucher.

Don't forget to check out when you are finished and grab your voucher to attend Spirits in the Gardens for free.

A hoard of volunteers work on pumpkin carving outside on a beautiful fall day.
A mother and daughter smile together with a newly-traced pumpkin.
A group from a sorority stencil and carve together.
A college-aged man holds a pumpkin steady as he hunches over it to stencil.

Iowa State University Participation Agreement

By registering for and attending this volunteer opportunity, you agree to Iowa State University and Reiman Gardens's Volunteer Participation Agreement and Photo Authorization and Release.