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

Once Halloween is over, the pumpkins on stoops and windowsills still need somewhere to go. Hudson River Park has an answer on Saturday, Nov. 7, when its annual Pumpkin Smash returns to Pier 84 in Hell's Kitchen from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Admission is free.

The format is simple: bring your own pumpkin and the park supplies the rest. Each participant picks a bat, a hammer or a shovel and gets 15 minutes to break the gourd into the smallest pieces possible. Past editions have featured parents and kids swinging at pumpkins set on tree stumps, which is most of the appeal.

The smashed pumpkin is handed to the park's team and turned into compost. The idea is to keep seasonal organic waste out of landfills and return it to the park as fertilizer for next season's plantings. The park notes that compost enriches the soil in its planting beds and helps plants hold water through the winter.

After smashing, stay to hear park staff explain how composting works in Hudson River Park. Earlier years also included a microscope station where children could look at bits of pumpkin up close, making this a good outing for families.

Pier 84 also has a boathouse, a dog run, its signature fountain, and food and bike concessions, so there is plenty to do before or after. The closest bus lines are the M42 and M50, and the closest subways are the A, C and E. The pier is accessible, with restrooms and water on site.