Jack's Lantern Trail: Call for Artists
Deadline: August 7, 2026
Artist Opportunity Type: Commission/Production
Compensation: Up to $180 per completed pumpkin ($75 per illustration and $75 per carving, plus a $5 signing bonus and a $10 completion bonus per pumpkin in each discipline you commit to)
Open to: Illustrators, carvers, tattoo artists and artists. No prior pumpkin experience required.
Exhibition/Event Dates: October 1 - November 1, 2026 (working on pumpkin at from September 8th until end of October)
Location: Iroquois Park, Louisville, KY
Contact: Roberto Velasco, velascodesigns@gmail.com
To Apply: https://forms.gle/gLEHqHEY9nL5Fbp68
Additional Information:
The Parks Alliance of Louisville is building a roster of illustrators and carvers to create the artwork at the heart of Jack's Lantern Trail, our annual fall experience at Iroquois Park. The Trail this year runs Thursday, October 1 through Sunday, November 1, 2026, where the pumpkins are the star of the show and the pumpkin artists are the star power.
We welcome three kinds of artists: those who illustrate, those who carve pumpkins, and those who do both. Illustrating and carving are separate disciplines here, and you can sign up for either or both. Prior pumpkin experience is not required. We're looking for distinctive vision, solid execution, and the ability to deliver on a production schedule. If you've never touched a pumpkin but you're ready to try, you're welcome.
To apply, complete the intake survey linked above. You are not required to have a proposal when applying. When you submit, you'll tell us how many pumpkins you can illustrate and/or carve across the event. Once you're selected and onboarded to our payroll system, we pay a $5 signing bonus up front for each pumpkin you commit to, in each discipline. Illustration pays $75 per pumpkin and carving pays $75 per pumpkin, and when you hit your committed number you earn an additional $10 per pumpkin in each discipline. A pumpkin you both illustrate and carve can earn up to $180. You're not responsible for gutting the pumpkins.The Parks Alliance of Louisville is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and philanthropic partner to Louisville Parks and Recreation.
Artist Information Session: July 29, 2025, 5:30 PM at Louisville Visual Art, 1538 Lytle St., Louisville, KY 40203. All artists welcomed.
Questions? Contact Roberto Velasco, velascodesigns@gmail.com