Mr Nicholls is hoping to see a procession of top drawer designs at the town’s renowned Spalding Pumpkin Festival, organised by South Holland District Council.
Armed with chisels, kitchen knives, apple corers and even a plasterer’s saw, Mr Nicholls and his wife Angela, who runs Farmhouse Chicken Crafts, will set up stall to demonstrate the art and intricacies of their pumpkin carving craft.
They want parade-goers to think beyond the standard Jack O’Lantern and peel off some creative new figures to give extra variety to the sea of orange that will descend on the town centre on 7th October.
Mr Nicholls, whose day job is as a broadband engineer for BT, said: “I want people to use their imagination and have the confidence to think outside the box, or beyond the pumpkin as you might say.
“Instead of the standard Jack O’Lantern there are so many other things you can create in a carved pumpkin and bring a smile to somebody’s face. It’s the humour that it creates.”
Among the couple’s repertoire for pumpkin design is a pumpkin-eating pumpkin, spiderman, sunflower, cat, autumn lady and errant pumpkins as inmates and those that have been drinking too much.
But it’s not just faces that have captured the couple’s imagination as they have used the orange spheres as houses, lanterns and even a toadstool.
The pair, from Gosberton, near Spalding, discovered the delights of pumpkins around 14 years ago during a trip to New England in the United States. There, youngsters take to the pumpkin fields, pick their specimen and return home to create a character or caricature of their own.
Carving is just one of many pumpkin-themed stalls and activities that will be at the Spalding Pumpkin Festival which runs from 10am until 9pm. There will be street entertainment and an interactive display from the National Farmers Union on why farming matters. David Bowman donates thousands of pumpkins to schools for children to decorate and bring along to the parade.
Clowns, live music, a fancy dress contest fireworks and cookery demonstrations are all part of the line-up with the centrepiece of proceedings the pumpkin parade, headed by South Holland Flower Queen Daisy Ivatt in her pumpkin coach, which starts from 6.30pm.
South Holland District Council Deputy Leader Nick Worth said: “The whole programme is lining up to be yet another fantastic treat for the people of South Holland to come and enjoy. Join us, bring the family and celebrate the humble pumpkin!”
The Pumpkin Parade is organised by South Holland District Council and is supported by The Rotary Club of Welland Centenary and Spalding Lions. The event is sponsored by David Bowman Ltd with community radio station Tulip Radio as compere for the event.
