Watch an Expert Carve Giant Pumpkins into Crazy Awesome Jack-o-Lanterns

Windward Mall’s Sixth Annual Pumpkin Carving Festival is on Oct. 25.

Photos: Courtesy of Billie Gabriel

Jack-o-lanterns are undoubtedly the most recognizable symbol of Halloween. But what began as a Celtic holiday ritual is now a fun family activity that helps community programs. Proceeds from the Pumpkin Carving Festival at Windward Mall, now in its sixth year, will benefit Keiki o Ka ʻĀina Learning Centers and Metro Christian Academy Preschool.

The 2015 festival will be held on Saturday, Oct. 25, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Windward Mall, where master carver Ed Moody will be making an encore appearance. Hailing from Frankfort, Michigan, Moody has been carving pumpkins since the age of 6. Every October, he creates a Halloween display for Frankfort residents by carving 25 1,000-pound pumpkins. He will be showcasing his talent on Oʻahu by carving two pumpkins—weighing more than 2,000 pounds together—that will be arriving from Michigan on Tuesday, Oct. 20.

Families will be able to take photos and sit inside of Moody’s Fairytales & Dreams pumpkin carriage during the festival, as well as carve jack-o-lanterns of their own. There will also be a kids carving challenge beginning at 11 a.m. High-school-student teams will have two hours to carve five pumpkins into a display of this year's theme, Hawai‘i Sports Legends.