“It’s gonna be a real fancy time,” said Bridger Royce ‘21, when I asked him about the upcoming Pumpkin Palooza. 

“Who wouldn’t want to learn how to cook using our favorite seasonal squash. The pumpkin.” Believe it or not, pumpkins have many more uses than being carved into a Jack O’ Lantern, and St. Lawrence University’s Greenhouse wants to prove that. 

If it wasn’t apparent from the name, this event has an emphasis on pumpkins. From 10 AM until 4 PM, this Saturday, October 26th, the Greenhouse is hosting its annual Pumpkin Palooza. 

Students can go to the Greenhouse located on 70 Park Street, and learn to cook using pumpkin as the main ingredient. 

The event is structured so that every hour, students will have the opportunity to create a different pumpkin inspired recipe. Some of these include pancakes, bread, cookies, pickles, and lattes. 

Being a pumpkin themed event, there will also be pumpkin carving and painting going on all day. 

The event is free for everyone and those who plan on going do not have to worry about showing up with a pumpkin. Everything will be provided at the event. 

The purpose of this event is to give people the opportunity to cook or eat something that they may not have a chance to elsewhere, Bridger said. 

He said he was most excited for the pumpkin fritters and loved how the event found creative ways to make the most out of pumpkins. 

Bridger Royce ‘21 also added how it’s a good opportunity to meet new people on campus.  

“Some people stay for a few minutes and some people stay for a few hours, but either way it’s a great way to meet new people.”

While the Palooza is one of the Greenhouse’s landmark events for the Fall semester, it is not the group’s biggest event. 

That would be the annual Folk Fest which occurs during the Spring semester. 

Some other events the house hosts are weekly workshops dedicated to learning about sustainability and cooking, among other topics. 

They also host dinner on campus, in partnership with Birdsfoot Farm. 

Access to these dinners is a hot commodity here at St. Lawrence, with many students interested in eating meals made using only locally grown ingredients. 

For those interested in joining the Greenhouse’s list serve and keeping up to date with Greenhouse events, you can email Emma Wood at Elwood16@stlawu.edu.

For the Pumpkin Palooza, costumes are not required but they are definitely encouraged. 

Royce does assures attendees that he will be going to be in  costume however, when asked he did not want to reveal what it would be and ruin the surprise for this upcoming Saturday.