Christine and her daughter took a quick mid-week road trip to see the pumpkin display in Shepherd last year.
Shortly after starting an IG story with Greater Lansing Area Moms my cousin told me about the Shepherd Pumpkins.
First though, know my grandmother grew in Shepherd decades ago. Most of her family stayed in Isabella county and she moved just a bit south. This town has so many fond memories from family gatherings to the annual Maple Syrup Festival and so much more! And now pumpkins!
Wait, what Shepherd Pumpkins?
She explained that Kent Roth, “you know, the guy who owns the Shepherd Bar & Restaurant has quite the pumpkin display and doubles the amount of pumpkins each year.”
It seems that about a week before Halloween, Mr. Roth and his crew spend a day gutting and carving pumpkins and getting them ready for the show. They – they has in the pumpkins – have bleacher-like seating and line a city block. String lights are used to illuminate their hard work! 2025 dates are slated for October 26 – 31!
I had some questions.
Where did this idea come from? She said the idea came from when he was on a trip to a southern state. GLAMoms has not yet been able to connect with Mr. Roth to hear more! Maybe before next pumpkin season we will be able to chat about his plans in 2025 for these round, ghoulish gourds.
Where do the pumpkins come from? All over. And I thought to myself… well no kidding 🙂
What do they do with the pumpkins after Halloween? He leaves them out, people pick them up and offer up a seasonal treat to area deer! And she shared the go quick!
That following year, we saw that @cassondra.wanders shared this very story! And when we met her at a recent St. Johns Chamber of Commerce Content Curator Retreat, she mentioned she would be sharing soon!
Last year we bundled up and hit the road. Hundreds and hundreds of pumpkins and every single pumpkin is carved. Some are traditional in appearance with triangle eyes and randomly placed teeth. Others are showing alliances between rivals – locally, the Bluejays, CMU and WMU (GO BRONCOS), Michigan State v. University of Michigan. Barbie was represented, as were some Minions, flowers and polka dots and names along with so, so many more!
She added, some kids wear their costumes too! There are not any treats handed out, the treats are in the form of all of the pumpkins and the whimsical fall-fun that line the street!
Shepherd is a small town and if you tell the locals to go to the street the Post Office is on, behind the Shepherd Bar, the locals know exactly where to go. For the rest of us, it is about an hour north of Greater Lansing. Drive towards the orange glow!
Actually, travel north on US-127 to exit 135 (Shepherd) and go west on Blanchard road. At Second street – the Post Office is on the corner – go north and the pumpkins will be impossible to miss.
Carving day is set for October 26 at the Roth’s with a goal of 5000 pumpkins this year! Interested in helping? Bring a friend and your creative carving ideas… Pumpkins will be out and on display from October 26 through October 31 and are lit each morning and evening.
Think of this as a trial run to holiday light displays and hit the road just under an hour to the north. On our way home we had some fun conversations about the pumpkins, memories of Shepherd as a child and she was asleep before the first St. Johns exit.
If you make the trip, send a photo to [email protected] – we would LOVE to see it.
And last year, we tagged @shepherdbarrestaurant in our stories! This year when we visit the Shepherd Pumpkins, we will have to stop in for a visit!
Safe travels!
