A new Western tradition … a Halloween pumpkin camp-out

Sunset, Oct, 1992

Westerners have always been creative about celebrating traditional holidays in nontraditional ways--whether it's paddling a kayak in a Christmas boat parade or plunging into the Pacific for a New Year's Day swim. Four years ago, a group of San Diego residents scared up a new way to celebrate Halloween: pumpkin camping.

In what's become a tradition, the tricksters take their pumpkins (many are homegrown) to Borrego Palm Canyon campgound in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. They spend most of the day carving spooky or whimsical faces. Then at dusk, with the approval of the park ranger, they light up the 30 to 50 pumpkins around their group campsite and on a craggy canyon wall. After a potluck dinner, the campers roast s'mores and tell ghost stories around the fire--completing an All Hallows' Eve in the California desert.