2,000 Pumpkins Light Up This Tiny Michigan Town Every Year
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Shepherd, Michigan, is best known for its spring maple syrup season. But every fall, the sweet and sticky gets traded in for something gooey and glowing. For one week leading up to Halloween, this small mid-Michigan village transforms into a jack-o’-lantern lover’s dream.
And we’re not talking about a handful of pumpkins arranged on someone’s porch. Thousands of hand-carved pumpkins light up an entire neighborhood block. The annual Shepherd Michigan Pumpkin Display features row after row of glowing gourds carved into everything from classic Halloween faces to surprisingly elaborate works of art.
If you’d prefer to get some hands-on fun to help create the display, there’s an event for that, too. Here’s what you need to know for the great pumpkin display in Shepherd this year.
How One Man’s Pumpkin Idea Became a Shepherd Tradition
Like many great small-town traditions, the Shepherd pumpkin display started with an idea that probably sounded like he was a little out of his gourd.
In 2014, local resident Kent Roth, owner of the Shepherd Bar & Restaurant, decided to carve 250 pumpkins with his family after seeing an enormous display during a trip to South Carolina. Apparently, 250 pumpkins weren’t quite enough.
In the years that followed, the tradition grew in size and support. Eventually, what started as a family Halloween project became a community-wide tradition featuring as many as 2,000 jack-o’-lanterns.
Today, Roth’s property near the center of the village becomes something of a Halloween headquarters each October. It’s also a pretty good example of what happens when a small town embraces an idea and runs with it. Instead of a commercial attraction with tickets, concessions, and entertainment, this is a neighborhood tradition that grows because it’s just that good-natured family fun every fall.
Where Is Shepherd’s Pumpkin Display?
The village of Shepherd is less than 10 miles southeast of Mount Pleasant. The carving group gathering and display happen at the corner of 2nd Street & Orchard Avenue. Plug in 109 N. 2nd Street into your GPS to get there.
When To Carve Out Time On Your Fall Trip to Shepherd, Michigan
One of the coolest things about the Shepherd pumpkin display is that visitors aren’t limited to admiring everyone else’s work. Each year, Roth welcomes community members and visitors to help carve the pumpkins during a massive volunteer effort shortly before Halloween.
In 2026, the carve-a-thon kicks off around 9am on Saturday, October 24, at the Roth home and runs until all the guts are spilled and the gourds are arranged down the block. You don’t have to be an expert pumpkin artist, either. Whether you’re creating an elaborate design or sticking with the tried-and-true toothy grin, there’s room for different skill levels. Just like to “scoop the guts”? There’s a spot for you, too.
Once the pumpkins are in place, they are lit daily through Halloween night. While you can drive by, walking throgh allows you to get a closer look at the uique creations. Once November 1 hits, the pumpkins are left out on a first-come, first-served basis to take. However, expect some hungry deer to be looking for a snack in the stack as well.
Is the Shepherd Pumpkin Display Worth the Drive?
Someone asked in the Michigan Day Trip’s Facebook forum if Shepherd’s 2000 pumpkin display was worth the trip. The dozens of responses from locals and previous visitors were overwhelmingly positive.
“Get out and walk around it. If you’re in the area, there are lots of good home displays in Mt Pleasant too!” – Hazel Church Hall
Several reported making trips of approximately an hour specifically to see the pumpkins and enjoying the experience enough to return. One couple said they were planning to bring their daughter, son-in-law, and granddaughter after enjoying their previous visit.
“It’s super cool and trick or treating in shepherd is the way to go. The owner of the house hands out full sized candy bars!” – Emily Simons
Others offered a more measured recommendation: If you’re already in the Mt. Pleasant area, it’s an easy yes. But if you’re driving several hours and expecting an evening full of organized activities, you might want to add other stops to your itinerary. Lucky for you, we’ve put together a perfect family fall weekend in Mt. Pleasant.
Of course, it’s tradition to head to the Roth-owned Shepherd Bar & Restaurant afterward.
Why We Think the Shepherd Pumpkin Display Is Worth It
Let’s face it. Between pumpkin patches, haunted attractions, corn mazes, and fall festivals, having a little seasonal fun can put a serious dent in your wallet. Finding something this impressive that’s completely free? That’s worth celebrating all by itself.
But what really makes the Shepherd Pumpkin Display special is the people behind it. Every single jack-o’-lantern represents someone’s time, creativity, and willingness to get their hands a little messy. It’s Michigan artistry at its most local, with neighbors and visitors coming together to create something that lasts just a handful of nights.
And the timing couldn’t be much better for a Michigan road trip. With fall colors painting the countryside around Mt. Pleasant and Shepherd, even the drive can be part of the experience.
So, if you’re looking for fall fun, a little Halloween magic, and an excuse to take a relaxing road trip, Shepherd checks all three boxes. Throw in thousands of Instagram-worthy pumpkins, a good meal at a local restaurant, and a price tag of absolutely nothing for the main attraction, and we’d call that one of the best values this season.
