Mark your calendars and carve a pumpkin for Mercer Island’s inaugural Pumpkin Walk, a fun, festive and non-scary event from 6-8 p.m. on Oct. 22 in Pioneer Park.

The northwest perimeter of the park trail will be glowing with a display of carved pumpkins for families of all ages to enjoy. The starting point will be on the trail near the South Fire Station, across from Starbucks, and the pumpkins will line the trail adjacent to 84th Avenue Southeast.

Islanders Amanda Colburn, Kau’ilani Robinson and Lindsey Holt and their families are organizing the event, which will occur rain or shine, Colburn said.

“Starbucks has agreed to donate coffee for the adults, and we’ll also have hot water [for cider or hot chocolate] for the kiddos,” she said. “Hopefully that can help keep people warm.”

Glow stick necklaces will be available for the first 250 kids to come through the walk, with an optional $1 donation to help cover event costs.

The organizers need help from the community to make the event a success. Drop off carved pumpkins at the corner of 84th Avenue Southeast and Southeast 68th Street between 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. on Oct. 22. Candles will be provided.

The Mercer Island High School Art Club agreed to help out by having each student in the club carve a pumpkin for the event, but more are needed.

“We are really hoping that in addition to people coming out to attend, that we have lots of families drop off jack-o’-lanterns so that there are plenty of them to light the trail,” Colburn said.

Colburn said that she’d love to see the Pumpkin Walk become an annual tradition, and “hopefully continue to grow in size and scope.”

This is an outdoor event; please dress for the weather. Costumes are optional.

For more, email MIPumpkinWalk@gmail.com or see the Facebook page at www.facebook.com/MIPumpkinWalk/.