[Wolfman]

Can't believe I've neve done this before; use a roll of toilet paper saturated with fuel, slather hand sanitizer all my ver the gourd, set fire to the whole thing. Forget candles or tea lights. I just St carv d a jack and lit it up outside - awesome.
Has anyone here been doing this?

 

[hevnsnt]

I will go first... what?

 

[Frankie's Girl]

Yup, seen these before and they're always impressive and yet scary looking. I've never done it because fire = dangerous to me, but the above is a good basic tutorial. Follow at your own risk. The video recommends you use a slow burn fuel like kerosene or camping stove fuel because it is a bit less crazy explode-y type of fuel and should burn for a few hours if done correctly.

You should be extremely careful where you set them up - in a flat, non-flammable area, protected from high wind, away from anything that could catch fire (like tree branches or props nearby or overhead) and keep away from where children could get too close - costumes especially. And keep a bucket or water or other fire extinguisher handy as well. Use common sense, be careful and aware of surroundings and be ready to put it out ASAP.

 

[JohnGalt]

I've done this the past few years. I set it up in my fire pit, with the grill raised up using a couple of spare metal pipes:

The kids get a big kick out of it (the adults too - most of them asking how I do it).

 

[kakugori]

The oldest pics I have of our pumpkin torches are from 2010, we've done it every year since at least then. I've found that a roll of TP is great for your average, grocery store sized pumpkin. But our pumpkins are the BIG ones, so that tends to burn out quicker. I'm thinking about getting some cheap paper towels instead. There's also a fine balance between getting the top opening large enough but not too big.

That second pic, the one with no face? That is taken after Halloween, made with a pumpkin that started to rot. The side started to go, so I gave it some assistance with caving in. One of the prettiest because that top ledge made the fire swirl.

You can also buy metallic crystals or flakes that will change the color of the fire. They're meant for campfires or (questionably) fireplaces, but they work fine in a pumpkin.

now with bonus goat man footage, but this shows the size of pumpkin and flame


PS normal warnings for out of accessible guest areas, fire extinguisher of choice, costumes flammable, dry weather, etc. Ours sit on a large piece of plywood (off the grass), behind a fence, with someone always watching and regular check-ins. Wet pumpkin guts help keep the fire in check, but you do have to worry about the flames out the top. It's kind of a pain to deal with, honestly, but it's neat.

 

[wackychimp]

Mix your fuel with Boric Acid (found in powdered roach poison) for green flames. Really awesome!

 

[Wolfman]

Yep, Boric Acid & Methyl Hydrate, all set. Plus, we will elevate the Jacks so that they are eye-level to a 5 year-old. Actually, we've never had kids enter the Graveyard without a goodly amount of coaxing. It is scarey, with the lighting, music and animatronics. Parents become somewhat exasperated when the little guys won't pose for the camera, but, Safety First.