Habedank leading community display

“Calling all pumpkin carvers,” Bill Habedank said with a laugh.

The Red Wing resident and expert carver is well known for his annual display of jack-o’-lanterns at the end of October, but this year he’s looking for some extra help to make the event a success. After 38 years and thousands of pumpkins carved, Habedank knows he can no longer keep up the tradition alone.

“I’d like to continue, but I can’t keep doing it at the level I have been,” he said.

So rather than slice, shave, shape and sculpt more than 100 pumpkins by himself this month, Habedank is welcoming community members to break out their carving tools, get creative and join in the fun.

“It’s just a matter of getting people involved in a project that’s worthwhile,” he said.

So far, about 50 people have already volunteered to help out the pumpkin carving veteran. And others are more than welcome to get in on the action — no experience necessary. Habedank will hold a pumpkin carving demonstration at 1 p.m. today at his home, 1913 Grandview Ave., to give volunteers some tricks of the trade.

Starting Oct. 20, the actual carving will commence.

“That’s when a lot of people will be here,” Habedank said, explaining that most of the carving for the display is going to be done at his house.

If someone wants to participate in the event but isn’t looking to take up the art of carving, Habedank said there are plenty of other ways for volunteers to get involved — from scooping out seeds to putting on patterns.

“If anybody wants to join in, they can do that. They don’t have to worry about carving pumpkins,” he said.

The goal is to have 150 jack-o’-lanterns fill Habedank’s front lawn come Oct. 27, the first night of the display. Community members, out-of-town visitors and Halloween fanatics alike can stop by and see them lit up from dusk until dawn every evening until Nov. 3.

The event is free, but Habedank asks that people bring donations for the food shelf or American Red Cross.

Tags: red wing, lifestyle, community