# Pumpkin Smash at Prairie Lakes — Des Plaines

> Event for families in the Chicago–Naperville–Elgin area (IL / IN). Times are Central Time.

- When: Sat, Nov 7 · 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
- Where: Prairie Lakes Community Center (north parking lot), 515 E. Thacker St., Des Plaines, IL 60016
- Ages: All ages
- Price: No fee listed
- Organizer: Des Plaines Park District
- Official page: https://www.dpparks.org/
- Last checked: Sat, Oct 24

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Freshness: listings are re-checked on a daily research run (latest check 2026-10-24), and new events are added as organizers post them. Sell-outs, weather cancellations and time changes show up on the live page first: https://grassyknees.com/chicago/activities/pumpkin-smash-at-prairie-lakes-des-plaines--listing-75d762d8c6e2c5ff87a1dfe0

## About

The Des Plaines Park District and the City of Des Plaines collect post-Halloween pumpkins at a Pumpkin Smash on Saturday, Nov. 7, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the north parking lot of the Prairie Lakes Community Center. Families bring their old pumpkins and toss them into a dumpster so they can be composted by WasteNot Compost instead of going to a landfill. Painted pumpkins are accepted, but remove candles, googly eyes, stickers, plastic and yarn first. Candy wrappers are also collected for recycling.

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