Festive Fall Decorations

Tuolumne, CA — The Mother Lode is embracing the fall season with pumpkin carving and other festive events.

As the leaves change color each year Black Oak Casino Resort sets up and carves huge pumpkins. Executive Chef Ed Wickman carved an 800 pound pumpkin into an octopus. The carving, as seen in the photo took nearly 10 hours. Jake Lucido, Executive Sous Chef carved a Walrus from a 1,200 pound pumpkin and Martin Reynolds, Director of Hospitality carves an 600 pound pumpkin into a crab. A total of eight carved pumpkins can be seen at the front entrance of Black Oak Casino Resort.

With Halloween occurring mid-week several annual Mother Lode events have already wrapped up. The Columbia Chamber of Commerce held their annual Illumination of the Jack-O’-Lanterns in the State Historic Park. Sonora’s Trick-Or-Treat Street was a success, as was the 4-H Haunted House. Railtown has been hosting Harvest Haunt Train rides as well. A few local elementary schools will have their Halloween Carnival fundraisers; Twain Harte School’s Halloween Carnival event listing is here, Columbia will have its PTA Carnival on Friday.