At Hell's Kitchen's Pier 84, NYC Smashes Post-Halloween Pumpkins for Compost

Hudson River Park's annual Pumpkin Smash takes place Saturday, Nov. 7, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Pier 84 in Hell's Kitchen. The idea is simple: bring a post-Halloween pumpkin, break it into small pieces, and let the park turn it into compost. Admission is free.

Participants bring their own pumpkin, and the park supplies the rest. Each person gets about fifteen minutes of smashing time and chooses a bat, hammer or shovel. The smaller the pieces, the better, since the scraps go into the park's compost for use on next season's plantings.

Once you've finished, park staff explain how composting works in Hudson River Park. Compost enriches planting beds and helps plants hold water through winter, and the event keeps seasonal organic waste out of landfills.

The pier will also host face painting, crafts and other kid-friendly activities, plus live music curated by Make Music New York and a reading zone from Brooklyn Book Bodega. City Winery will sell light refreshments, including apple cider donuts and mulled wine, either through a pre-order form or at its table on site.

Pier 84 is served by the A, C and E subway lines and the M42 and M50 buses. The site is accessible and has restrooms, food and water. The event suits families, and it also gives anyone with a leftover jack-o-lantern a good place to dispose of it.