Photos: Jamaica Plain Great Pumpkin Smash ends the Halloween season with a bang

By Jay Guarino, Beacon Correspondent / November 17, 2025

Residents of Jamaica Plain kicked off the month of November with the Great Pumpkin Smash, an event that allowed Bostonians of all ages to compost their pumpkins in a fun and engaging way. On Nov. 1, families gathered at The English High School armed with leftover pumpkins, and people took aim before handing over the scraps to the composting team. The event was coordinated as a joint effort between the city of Boston and its partners, Mothers Out Front East Boston, South Street Youth Center, The English High School, and Garbage to Garden.

A father helps his son smash a pumpkin with a baseball bat. (Jay Guarino/ For The Beacon)

A child cracks a pumpkin down the center with a baseball bat. (Jay Guarino/ For The Beacon)

A child helps the composting team dispose of pumpkin pulp. (Jay Guarino/ For The Beacon)

The remnants of pumpkins lay overtop a painted orange target. (Jay Guarino/ For The Beacon)

A father helps his child drop a pumpkin onto the target. (Jay Guarino/ For The Beacon)

A father takes aim, sending pumpkin pulp into the air. (Jay Guarino/ For The Beacon)

Bits and pieces of pumpkin are placed into green composting bins for easy disposal. (Jay Guarino/ For The Beacon)

A pumpkin shattered into pieces after being dropped onto the target. (Jay Guarino/ For The Beacon)

Two siblings take turns throwing pumpkins onto the target. (Jay Guarino/ For The Beacon)

A young child grins after striking his pumpkin with a baseball bat. (Jay Guarino/ For The Beacon)