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Visitors Bureau DIY Pumpkin Patch in downtown Beaumont, Oct. 17-31.

Seven student members of the National Art Education Association got creative, a little social (while still distanced) and designed festive pumpkins to be displayed in downtown Beaumont.

Students chose to paint, carve, tie ribbons and glue yarn resulting in gourd-geous pieces of art. The project was also a respite from schoolwork while allowing some traditional regularity in a year of uncertainty.

“This project brought a sense of normalcy, recognizing seasonal traditions, and it is something that connects students to the community but not something they are necessarily being graded on,” said Joana Hyatt, assistant professor who teaches art education and managed the project with students as well as painted a pumpkin…or two. “It was a fun art activity, and showed students we’re going to celebrate the holidays; this is a normal year after all.”

Briana Allen, a junior graphic design major from Houston, loves Halloween and enjoyed carving her pumpkin with a kitty cat pumpkin face inspired by her favorite movie, “Kiki’s Delivery Service.”

“He’s a cute little cat. I didn’t want to do the stereotypical mean looking cat. He’s just mean in a cute way,” said Allen. Allen says she is a huge Scooby-Doo lover and will likely be one of the Scooby-Doo characters for Halloween.

Senior art education major, Brooke Tante, decided on a school theme for her pumpkin project. “I wanted to do something that had LU and NAEA in it so I combined the two,” said Tante, a Nederland native. Tante used red and white paint and ribbon to decorate the pumpkin with LU and NAEA lettering. Tante plans to dress up like Sarah Sanderson, from the movie, “Hocus Pocus” for Halloween.

The CVB is hosting the DIY Pumpkin Patch to encourage people to get outside, view the designs and vote on their favorite pumpkins. Winners will be rewarded with swag.  

“With so many Halloween festivities being canceled because of COVID-19, we wanted to share a fun and safe socially distanced fall initiative to get people out and about with a route that visitors can follow at their

leisure,” said Christina Lokey, marketing director at the CVB.

The pumpkins will align sidewalks around the Art Museum of Southeast Texas, the Texas Fire Museum and the Beaumont Children’s Museum. The event is free and open to the public, Oct. 17-31.