WAUPACA, Wis.— Halloween means Pumpkin Time at the Miller’s in Waupaca. 

The family lights their front yard with Jack-O-Lanterns for the community to enjoy every year.


What You Need To Know

  • Pumpkin display attracts the Halloween crowd

  • It started with 3, and last year featured 200 unique pumpkins

  • Free to the public but donations welcomed

Jim Miller started the tradition 23 years ago when he carved up three pumpkins for his children. It’s come a long way since then.

“Last year we had 200 pumpkins out,” said Miller. “We’re going to try to do that this year too.”

Miller started the project two weeks before Halloween. He spends about 15 hours a day working in his garage. That seems long, but it’s down from 18 hour days in previous years.

He’s joined by volunteers, and along the way, he found some tools to speed up the process.

“We said, 'Hey, let’s try a tattoo gun,'” said Miller. “I ordered one online, and it worked. We ended up ordering three or four of them now.”

What began as fun with his kids, Miller now thinks the display has outgrown his yard.

“My anxiety level goes way up, and I’m afraid someone’s going to get hurt,” said Miller.

He’s concerned about cars and kids using his dark country road at night.

Miller is in talks with city officials to move the pumpkins downtown.

“I thought I’d ask. They’re interested, so I think we’re going to try to make this a big deal,” said Miller. “Something for the community.”“I thought I’d ask. They’re interested, so I think we’re going to try to make this a big deal,” said Miller. “Something for the community.”

The display already supports the community. It’s free to check out, but donations are accepted for several local charities.

One of the charities, the Waupaca County Humane Society, is near to the heart of volunteer Patty Wagner. Her dog Zara came from the HSWC. Zara also made an appearance on one of the pumpkins. 

“I have no artistic bone in my body but I hang with a lot of people that are artsy and I just love it,” said Wagner. “It’s very relaxing. We all have a good time and we’ve all become friends.”

Miller enjoys watching kids view the pumpkins, but he especially likes to see the reactions from older generations.

“They seem to get the biggest kick out of it,” said Miller.

The pumpkin crew has their process down to a science.  Printed designs get matched and glued to an appropriately sized pumpkin. The team then uses a tattoo gun to trace through the lines.

Then the paper is removed and an assortment of hand tools and the small band of volunteers get to work removing small layers of the outer pumpkin.

Pumpkins are then gutted, sprayed to keep mold at bay, then a lightbulb is added and they’re set outside, ready for viewing.

Pumpkins light up at dusk; click here for more information on what may be the final "Pumpkin Time at the Miller's."