A Town of Pumpkins
In the little town of Maple Hollow, autumn was the favorite time of year. Leaves turned red and gold, the air grew crisp, and the pumpkin patch at Farmer Green’s field glowed with hundreds of bright orange pumpkins.
Every October, the town held the Pumpkin Patch Parade. Families carved funny faces, painted swirls and stars, and polished their pumpkins until they shone. Then, on the evening of the parade, everyone gathered in the square to show them off.
This year, Ellie wanted her pumpkin to be special. She skipped through the field with her little brother Max, searching for the perfect one.
Choosing a Pumpkin
Max pointed to a round pumpkin with freckles. “This one!”
Ellie shook her head. “Too small. I want a big one that will shine in the parade.”
They wandered between rows of pumpkins—tall ones, short ones, lopsided ones. Finally, Ellie spotted a pumpkin shaped like a heart. She clapped her hands. “This is the one!”
Farmer Green loaded it into their wagon. “Take care of her,” he said with a wink. “Pumpkins like this have big personalities.”
Ellie and Max giggled. Could a pumpkin really have a personality?
Decorating Day
At home, Ellie spread paints, glitter, and ribbons across the table. Max tapped his brush impatiently.
“I’ll paint stars,” Ellie decided. “And you can paint moons.”
Together they covered the pumpkin in swirling galaxies. They tied a ribbon at the stem and sprinkled golden glitter across the top.
When the last star was painted, the pumpkin seemed to twinkle. Ellie leaned close. For just a moment, she thought she saw the pumpkin smile.
The Parade Begins
That evening, lanterns lit the cobblestone streets. Families carried pumpkins glowing with candles inside—grinning faces, silly monsters, even one shaped like a cat. Music played as everyone marched toward the square.
Ellie held her pumpkin proudly. Max skipped beside her, humming to the tune.
But halfway there, Ellie tripped on a stone. The pumpkin tumbled out of her arms and rolled into the street.
“Oh no!” Ellie gasped. She expected it to crack. Instead, the pumpkin bounced upright and kept rolling, as if it wanted to lead the way.
“Wait!” Max laughed. “It’s marching in the parade!”
A Pumpkin with Personality
The pumpkin rolled steadily down the street, wobbling left and right in time with the music. Children pointed and clapped. “Look! That pumpkin’s dancing!”
Even the mayor chuckled. “Now that’s a pumpkin with spirit.”
Ellie ran after it, cheeks flushed. “Come back!” she called, but she couldn’t help smiling. Her pumpkin wasn’t ruined—it was the star of the show.
At the square, the pumpkin stopped right in front of the judges’ table. It gave one last wobble, then settled neatly on the stage. The crowd cheered.
Ellie and Max stood proudly beside it. “This is our pumpkin,” Ellie said. “She wanted to march.”
The judges laughed and clapped. “Winner of the Most Spirited Pumpkin: Ellie and Max!”
Togetherness
That night, Ellie and Max placed their trophy on the mantel. Their pumpkin glowed warmly beside it, candlelight flickering through the painted stars.
“I thought the parade was about having the fanciest pumpkin,” Ellie said softly. “But it’s really about celebrating together.”
Max nodded sleepily. “And about pumpkins with personality.”
Ellie giggled. She hugged her brother, then whispered to the glowing pumpkin, “Thank you for leading the way.”
The End.
If you’d like to learn more about the joy of fall traditions, explore National Geographic Kids: 5 reasons why fall is fantastic
Looking for another seasonal bedtime read? Try The Pumpkin Who Wanted to Be a Star, a heartwarming autumn tale about dreams and belonging.
Make bedtime feel extra cozy — visit our Bedtime Shop for glowing nightlights, cuddly plush friends, and enchanting storybooks that help little dreamers drift off with a smile.
