Blowing Off Steam at Mableton's Outdoor Pumpkin Rage Room

Instead of tossing our leftover Halloween jack-o'-lanterns into the trash this year, a big crowd gathered at Our Giving Garden on Saturday, November 7, to smash them to pieces. Hosted by the City of Mableton’s Office for Sustainability, Greenspace, and Beautification, the Great Pumpkin Smash offered a lively afternoon of pumpkin bowling, flying gourds, and community connection.

With 35 reservations on the books, the garden felt like an outdoor rage room where you could blow off some steam. Kids and adults grabbed baseball bats and took turns obliterating their old Halloween carvings alongside extra pumpkins supplied by Our Giving Garden. 

I even stepped up and took a few swings at a pumpkin myself, and I can confirm it is a fantastic way to relieve some stress.

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Beyond the flying pumpkin guts, the afternoon made a real impact across our area in a few different ways:

• Stocking Local Pantries: Admission to the event was a donation of non-perishable food items, which are going directly toward food access initiatives for families in need right here in Mableton.

• 720 Pounds Kept Out of Landfills: Every smashed piece was collected to be converted into nutrient-rich compost rather than sitting in a landfill. The haul is headed to Volkstuin Farms in downtown Austell to help grow fresh food close to our community.

• Treats for Tortoises: Some of the beat-up pumpkins were also delivered to a nearby tortoise sanctuary, where pumpkin happens to be a favorite snack.

Check out a few of the photos I captured from the event below!

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