"The leap from Smashing Pumpkins to building snowmen happened a little quicker than we anticipated." That was how Mayor Paula McCombie opened her November 2025 recap of the Village's first Pumpkin Smash. That morning ended with 2,900 pounds of jack-o'-lanterns headed for compost and a promise that the event "won't be the last."
It wasn't. The second annual Pumpkin Smash is this Saturday, November 7, from 9:30 a.m. to noon at the South Barrington Conservancy. Pumpkins and cider donuts are the reason to go. The event also lands on the Conservancy in a busy fall for it. This fall the Village brought back the commission that looks after the Conservancy, asked residents about a path down Bartlett Road, and put a public event on the prairie that a lot of households only see from the car.
What 2,900 Pounds Looks Like Next to Everyone Else
The Pumpkin Smash comes from SCARCE, the environmental education nonprofit that started it with Wheaton and Elmhurst in 2014. In 2025, SCARCE counted 125 known collection sites that together composted 400,393 pounds of pumpkins, a little over 200 tons. That works out to about 3,200 pounds per site.
South Barrington's first try came in at 2,900 pounds. That's close to the average site's total, from a village holding the event for the first time. The mayor called it "pretty impressive for us first timers," and the math backs her up.
The Village explains the reason for the event in plain terms. A pumpkin in a landfill breaks down without enough oxygen and gives off methane. A composted pumpkin puts its nutrients back into the soil. Across all of its 2025 sites, SCARCE estimates about 144 tons of CO2e emissions avoided and 43,010 gallons of water kept out of landfills.
Getting Your Pumpkin Ready Before Saturday
Decorations are what keep a pumpkin out of the compost. SCARCE's guide says only the pumpkin itself can be composted. At off-site events like this one, the pumpkins go to a permitted compost facility, and anything that won't break down has to be thrown out separately.
Before you load the car, take off:
- Candles and tea lights
- String lights and battery puck lights
- Stickers, googly eyes, plastic ears, yarn and other add-ons
- Anything else that won't break down
Last year the Village asked people to remove all candles, lights and decorations. SCARCE's guide allows most acrylic-painted pumpkins, and the Daily Herald's 2026 pumpkin smash roundup lists non-toxic paint as acceptable. If yours is painted, send the Village a quick email to settle it before you go.
You don't need to bring a pumpkin. The Village says you can drop yours off, or show up and smash the ones already on site. Last year Goebbert's donated extra pumpkins for exactly that.
The event is open to the public. The Village asks people to register so it can plan supplies, and Makayla Terfehn is taking names at [email protected].
Who Shows Up
The partners are back from last year. SCARCE handles the composting side. Goebbert's brings apple cider donuts and hot cider, plus something new this year: a candy cannon. The East Dundee Fire District and Barrington Countryside Fire Protection District will have engines out for kids to explore.
Last year East Dundee's crew also competed in what the mayor called a "firefighter pumpkin-smashing showdown," and she thanked them for "being great sports." She also wrote that "as the morning went on, the creativity in smashing techniques grew," with every age group joining in. Show up near 9:30 if you want to see the early, careful swings. Show up later for the more creative ones.
Goebbert's Fall Festival closed November 1, so Saturday's cider may be your last of the season from the farm. Its Thanksgiving desserts are still coming. Pre-orders are due November 21, with pickup on November 24 or 25.
The Ground You'll Be Standing On
The Village lists the event address as 8 Bridges Drive. The parking lot there, with a bike rack, sits between the picnic grounds and the prairie trails. South Barrington Park District's Community Park, with its playground, ballfields, pavilion and restrooms, is right next door.
The Conservancy covers 35 acres of lightly wooded prairie and wetland on the west side of Bartlett Road. The higher ground is a mix of tallgrass prairie and cottonwood groves. A large marshy pond feeds a stream that winds southwest across the property, and the wetland draws migrating waterfowl.
Once your pumpkin is in the dumpster, the rest of the site is a short walk away:
- The observation platform overlooks the pond, a good spot to watch for waterfowl passing through in November.
- Two trails, one mowed and one wood-chip, lead deeper into the prairie.
- Nesting boxes around the property are set up for bluebirds and tree swallows.
- A small arboretum around the picnic grounds features native and specimen trees, including Bur Oak, White Oak, Kentucky Coffee Tree, Ginkgo and Smoke Tree.
The Village keeps invasive plants in check with controlled burns, targeted herbicide and volunteer weeding and brush clearing. The revived commission now has a role in that upkeep.
The Commission Is Back for the First Time Since 2021
At its September meeting, the Village Board reestablished the Conservancy Commission. The commission has since held its first meeting since 2021. It has seven commissioners. Namrata Shah was named chair, and Diane Bodkin returns from the original commission, which the Village credits with helping shape the Conservancy's development over the years.
The Village says the commission's job is "the continued growth and stewardship of the South Barrington Conservancy." The commission is back in place weeks before the Pumpkin Smash returns to the Conservancy.
A second Conservancy-related effort is underway along Bartlett Road. The Village is surveying residents about a proposed bike and pedestrian path from Penny Road, near Algonquin Road, down Bartlett to Higgins Road. The route comes from the 2023 Comprehensive Plan, and survey responses will support the Village's grant applications. It's still a proposal, not a funded project, and the survey is linked from the Village's website.
If 9:30 Doesn't Work
The neighbors picked the same Saturday, so a scheduling conflict doesn't mean the pumpkin goes in the trash.
| Village | Time on Saturday, Nov. 7 | Location |
|---|---|---|
| South Barrington | 9:30 a.m. to noon | South Barrington Conservancy, 8 Bridges Drive |
| Barrington | 9 to 11 a.m. | Upper Field of Dreams lot at Barrington High School, off Hart Road |
| Hoffman Estates | 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. | Public Works Open House, 2305 Pembroke Ave. |
The times above come from each village's own event listing. The Daily Herald roundup also lists Saturday morning sites in Rolling Meadows, Mount Prospect and Arlington Heights. Hoffman Estates asks people to remove candles and decorations too.
The Path That Leads to Next Saturday
When the Village built the Conservancy, it added a pedestrian path from the prairie to The Arboretum of South Barrington. You'll want to know that path exactly one week after the smash.
On Saturday, November 14, from 5 to 7 p.m., The Arb holds its annual Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony and Parade. The parade starts at 5 p.m. on Main Street, with Santa, dancing elves, stilt walkers and the Gingerbread Man, and ends in Main Street Plaza. There, the 52-foot tree lights up with a light and music show. A holiday tent will have balloon artists, face painters and strolling magicians, and holiday characters stay afterward for photos. The Village of South Barrington is one of the listed sponsors.
After that, free photos with Santa run December 5, 12 and 19, from 9 a.m. to noon. Bring your own camera or phone.
If Saturday's walk around the Conservancy gets you wondering how the open space next door figures into your home's value, I'm glad to talk it through. Jennifer Haug works across South Barrington and can put together a free home valuation that reflects your actual street, trail access included. Get Your Free Home Valuation whenever you're ready.
