Seven-year-old Eli Rusks chucks his pumpkin down the sled hill during Saturday's "Pumpkin Smash and Bash" event at Centennial Park, November 5, 2022. (Brian O'Mahoney for the Pioneer Press)
Brian OMahoney / Pioneer Press
Two-year-old Kent Bashioum and his father, Josh Bashioum, smash a pumpkin during Saturday's "Pumpkin Smash and Bash" event at Centennial Park, November 5, 2022. (Brian O'Mahoney for the Pioneer Press)
Brian OMahoney / Pioneer Press
Six-year-old Caleb Vonderhaar and his 8-year-old brother Liam collect all the pieces of their smashed pumpkins during Saturday's "Pumpkin Smash and Bash" event at Centennial Park, November 5, 2022. (Brian O'Mahoney for the Pioneer Press)
Brian OMahoney / Pioneer Press
Ten-year-old Ava Armer stomps on her pumpkin during Saturday's "Pumpkin Smash and Bash" event at Centennial Park, November 5, 2022. (Brian O'Mahoney for the Pioneer Press)
Brian OMahoney / Pioneer Press
Two-year-old, Kent Bashioum and his father, Josh Bashioum smash a pumpkin during Saturday's "Pumpkin Smash and Bash" event at Centennial Park, November 5, 2022. (Brian O'Mahoney for the Pioneer Press)
Brian OMahoney / Pioneer Press
Saturday's "Pumpkin Smash and Bash" event at Centennial Park, November 5, 2022. (Brian O'Mahoney for the Pioneer Press)
Brian OMahoney / Pioneer Press
Six-year-old Carter Willmann smashes his pumpkin during Saturday's "Pumpkin Smash and Bash" event at Centennial Park, November 5, 2022. (Brian O'Mahoney for the Pioneer Press)
Brian OMahoney / Pioneer Press
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Seven-year-old Eli Rusks chucks his pumpkin down the sled hill during Saturday's "Pumpkin Smash and Bash" event at Centennial Park, November 5, 2022. (Brian O'Mahoney for the Pioneer Press)
Park Ridge children got to engage in wanton vegetable-related destruction Saturday, and their parents, as well as official authorities, approved.
Saturday’s “Pumpkin Smash and Bash” event at Centennial Park, November 5, 2022. (Brian O’Mahoney for the Pioneer Press)
Six-year-old Carter Willmann smashes his pumpkin during Saturday’s “Pumpkin Smash and Bash” event at Centennial Park, November 5, 2022. (Brian O’Mahoney for the Pioneer Press)
Ten-year-old Ava Armer stomps on her pumpkin during Saturday’s “Pumpkin Smash and Bash” event at Centennial Park, November 5, 2022. (Brian O’Mahoney for the Pioneer Press)
Six-year-old Caleb Vonderhaar and his 8-year-old brother Liam collect all the pieces of their smashed pumpkins during Saturday’s “Pumpkin Smash and Bash” event at Centennial Park, November 5, 2022. (Brian O’Mahoney for the Pioneer Press)
At the Park Ridge Park District’s Pumpkin Smash and Bash event, children were able to smash their pumpkins with mallets or baseball bats, jump on them or find other inventive ways to split them into pieces. Then, they could roll them down the Centennial Park sled hill.
The event was designed to teach children about recycling and composting, but they were also able to have fun doing some damage to the gourds.
Seven-year-old Eli Rusks chucks his pumpkin down the sled hill during Saturday’s “Pumpkin Smash and Bash” event at Centennial Park, November 5, 2022. (Brian O’Mahoney for the Pioneer Press)
