Pumpkin Contest Magic: Stitch Jedi & Labubu Light Up the School Hallways
There’s something about October that brings out everyone’s creative side—crisp mornings, the smell of cinnamon, and the sound of carving tools scratching across pumpkin shells. At our elementary school, that creativity shines brightest during the annual Pumpkin Decorating Contest, where the hallways transform into a fall-themed art gallery filled with laughter, paint, and imagination.
This year, our family dove in with full enthusiasm—and maybe a little friendly sibling competition. R2 decided to go full galactic, designing a Stitch Jedi, while Lilly took a more whimsical route with a Labubu creation that turned heads and sparked plenty of curious “What’s that?” questions from classmates and teachers alike.
R2’s “Stitch Jedi” — May the Pumpkin Be With You
R2 has been on a big Star Wars kick lately (and yes, we may have watched Ahsoka one too many times). So when it came time to pick a pumpkin theme, the choice was obvious: combine his love for Lilo & Stitch with his Jedi obsession. The result? A blue-painted pumpkin transformed into Stitch wielding a tiny blue lightsaber.
We started by painting the pumpkin a perfect Stitch blue—complete with his wide-eyed grin and big floppy ears made from cardboard and craft foam. R2 took charge of “weathering” the lightsaber with silver streaks to make it look like it had seen a few battles in the galaxy far, far away. He even added a mini Jedi robe made from brown felt scraps. The finishing touch? A little “May the Pumpkin Be With You” sign taped proudly to the base.
Watching him step back and grin at his creation was one of those little parenting moments that sticks with you—pun intended.
For more Disney-inspired fall ideas and crafts, check out the official Disney Parks Blog.
Lilly’s “Labubu” — A Touch of Whimsy
Lilly, ever the trendsetter, chose something a bit more offbeat. While most kids went for familiar faces like Mickey or Barbie, she wanted to create a Labubu, the quirky, mischievous character from the POP MART collectible toy line. If you’ve never seen one, think part-monster, part-fairy, part-adorable chaos—all wrapped up in a toothy grin.
We used a pale orange pumpkin and covered it in layers of pastel pink and cream paint to mimic Labubu’s soft coloring. Lilly handled the details herself—big eyes outlined in black, a mischievous smile, and ears made from sculpted clay that we hot-glued onto the top. The hair? That was her favorite part: cotton candy-colored yarn tufts glued in every direction until it looked delightfully wild.
Her classmates loved guessing what it was—some called it a unicorn, others thought it was an alien—but Lilly proudly explained the story behind Labubu to anyone who asked. That confidence made all the late-night paint touch-ups totally worth it.
Labubu is part of the collectible art toy world created by POP MART – you can explore more about this quirky character on the official POP MART site.
Pumpkin Chaos
Between drying times, glue gun meltdowns, and last-minute supply runs, our kitchen turned into a crafting battlefield. The real magic of the pumpkin contest isn’t about winning—it’s about the laughs, the teamwork, and seeing your kids’ creativity bloom right in front of you.
On the morning of the contest, we carried both pumpkins carefully to the school gym, where tables overflowed with everything from classic jack-o’-lanterns to movie characters and even a few full-on dioramas. The kids proudly set their pumpkins down among the others, eyes wide with excitement and just a hint of nervousness.
The Results (and the Real Win)
When the winners were announced that afternoon, R2 and Lilly didn’t take home a ribbon this time—but you’d never know it from their smiles. They spent the rest of the day walking friends over to their pumpkins, explaining every detail, and soaking up compliments from teachers and parents.
As we loaded the pumpkins back into the car at the end of the day, both kids agreed they already had ideas for next year. R2’s thinking of a Mandalorian pumpkin (“maybe with Grogu popping out of the top!”), and Lilly’s dreaming up something “even cuter and creepier.”
No trophies this year—but tons of fun, laughter, and a few great stories. And honestly? That’s the best kind of win.
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