Community

The itison Pumpkin Fund

The itison Pumpkin Fund was created in 2019 to make sure that every year with GlasGLOW, comes good.

Last year we raised a massive £20,000 at the event to help support ten amazing local charities – taking the total raised by The itison Pumpkin Fund to £80,000

This year we’ll be supporting another brilliant capital project in the local area to help spread pumpkin power as far as we can – and we’re bringing back our FREE community pumpkin decorating classes too!

A person with a pumpkin for a head stands in Glasgow Botanic Gardens on an autumn day. They are surrounded by small decorated pumpkins.

What we've achieved

Since The itison Pumpkin Fund launched in 2019, we’ve been able to support some amazing charities on our doorstep including…

• £10,000 donated to Hillhead Secondary to help secure a new minibus for the school

• £15,000 donated to East Park in Maryhill to create a state-of-the-art new sensory room called The GLOW Room and a further £5,000 raised to go towards creating a new soft play area for the kids there

• £30,000 donated to Highpark LCR in Ruchill to fund a 16 seater mini bus to help the kids get out and about to explore the city

• £5,000 donated to Love Milton to create a new outdoor play area

• Plus donations of £1000 - £3000 pledged to Abercorn Secondary, 3D Drumchapel, North United Charities, AMMA Birth Companions, Kelvindale Primary School, St Patrick’s Primary, G20 Community Hub Hope Café, Glasgow Taxi Charity and Young People’s Futures.

Each GlasGLOW spreads lots of pumpkin joy across Glasgow and beyond – donating thousands of pumpkins to schools and community groups to decorate which then go on display in our Pumpkin Patch - one of the best-loved parts of our show…and also free to visit and enjoy during the day.

We also donate 1,000 free tickets each year to help people who otherwise might not be able to attend GlasGLOW.

Young girl showing off her decorated pumpkin Kids pumpkin decorating workshop

FREE Pumpkin Decorating Workshops!

Our FREE pumpkin workshops are back this October bringing some Halloween magic to the Children’s Garden within the Botanics.

Everyone is welcome – no need to book – all you need to do is bring yourself and your pumpkin decorating A-game.

Thu 17th – Sun 20th October, daily at 11am - 3pm

Sat 26th – Sun 27th October, daily at 11am - 3pm

You’ll be able to take your decorated pumpkin home with you – or we can display it at our epic annual Pumpkin Patch for tens of thousands of visitors to enjoy in the Botanics throughout the show.

Children with guardians at a table, designing and carving pumpkins