TOPEKA (KSNT) – For most people, pumpkins are a fall decoration. But for one Topeka family, they have become a canvas for art.
For more than a decade, the Schmidt family has transformed the front of their home in the College Hill neighborhood into an elaborate pumpkin display featuring dozens of hand-carved designs that draw visitors from across the community.
The display includes carvings inspired by pop culture characters and celebrities, from Taylor Swift to R2-D2 and Curious George, turning ordinary pumpkins into works of art.
Homeowner Joe Schmidt said the idea began when he first saw the house years ago.
“When I saw this porch, and I saw the house, that’s the first thing I thought of,” Schmidt said. “I’m like, ‘Honey, I can see the front of this house with pumpkins all over it.’ And she just laughed, rolled her eyes like, ‘Okay, yeah, right.’ And now I made it. I did my vision.”
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What started as an idea has grown into a neighborhood attraction.
“Surreal,” Ralynn Schmidt said. “I never dreamt that our house would be like a big Halloween attraction.”
Creating the display takes more than carving tools and creativity. The family said patience and attention to detail are key to bringing each design to life.
“Really, a lot of it’s just patience,” Joe Schmidt said. “It’s just taking my time and just being careful.”
Their son, Evan Schmidt, said one of his favorite parts is seeing the community enjoy the display.
“It’s kind of just fun to see people out here looking around, having fun,” he said.
While the pumpkins displayed at the home are made from Styrofoam rather than real pumpkins, family members said the tradition is about more than the finished product.
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For Eliza Schmidt, the annual carving season has become something friends have come to expect.
“My friends think, ‘Oh, it’s the crazy time of year,’” she said.
Joe Schmidt said neighbors have embraced the tradition and the visitors it brings to the area.
“Everybody loves it. They love what it does for the neighborhood,” Schmidt said. “We love College Hill. It’s got an awesome neighborhood feel to it and it just brings people in and everybody in the neighborhood just absolutely loves it.”
The display is located near the intersection of 14th Street and Jewell Avenue in central Topeka and will remain up through the Halloween season. Visitors are encouraged to stop by and take a look at the unique collection of carved pumpkins.
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