Halloween fun

Spouses Mouly Kumar (left), lecturer in electrical and computer engineering, and Debra Kumar, assistant professor of practice in human computer integration, assisted by 3-year-old daughter Maya, stencil pumpkins during a volunteer session Oct. 14 at Reiman Gardens. Photos by Christopher Gannon.

Preparation continues this week for Reiman Gardens' annual "Spirits in the Gardens," which features activities, entertainment, candy and a thousand hand-carved jack-o'-lanterns. Pumpkin stenciling occurred last weekend, and volunteer carvers, who began their work Wednesday, will wrap up Friday prior to a 7 p.m. preview at the gardens.

Saturday and Sunday events (Oct. 22-23) run from 5 to 9 p.m. nightly. The first two hours include Simon Says games and performances by ISU's chemistry, cosplay and juggling/unicycling student clubs. All evening, guests can enjoy the jack-o'-lanterns, hologram projections, candy and treats, and a lighted tower at Sycamore Falls. Boy scouts will sell snacks and warm drinks as a fundraiser.

Tickets must be purchased online in advance and cost $15 ($13 for members and ISU students, $7 for youth ages 2-12 years). As of Wednesday, Saturday night was sold out. Tickets remain for the 8 p.m. entry time Friday and the 5, 7, 8 and 9 p.m. entry times on Sunday. 

Volunteer Ida Schwab of Ames filled in an elaborate face stencil during an Oct. 14 session to prepare 1,000 jack-o'-lanterns for Spirits in the Gardens this weekend. 

(Front) Amy Taylor, a junior in animal science, and friends were among volunteers stenciling pumpkins at Reiman Gardens Oct. 14.

Academic advisor Liz Harris, human development and family studies, turns in a freshly stenciled pumpkin during a volunteer session last week.