Quick answer
The pumpkin bingo pattern is a solid round pumpkin with a stem: N1 is the stem, then three squares on row 2, the full middle and fourth rows, and three squares on the bottom row. It covers 17 squares including the free space, so you need 16 numbers. It's a long game: one card has a 1.75% chance by call 60, and in a room with 500 cards the first pumpkin usually comes around call 53.
Which squares make the pumpkin?
A round pumpkin sitting on the bottom of the card, with its stem poking up:
- Stem: N1
- Top of pumpkin: I2, N2, G2
- Widest part: all of row 3 (with the free space) and all of row 4
- Bottom: I5, N5, G5
17 squares, 16 numbers. The N column is completely filled (N1 to N5, counting the free space), the I and G columns are filled from row 2 down, and B and O contribute only rows 3 and 4. So nearly all the action is in the middle three columns.
Pumpkin odds by call
Exact single-card figures:
| Calls made | Chance one card has the pumpkin |
|---|---|
| 40 | under 0.01% |
| 50 | 0.06% |
| 60 | 1.75% |
| 70 | 29% |
Half of single cards finish by call 73. In a room, our simulation puts the first pumpkin at about call 60 with 50 cards and call 53 with 500 cards, close to the outside edge, which also needs 16 numbers.
Pumpkin vs. heart
The pumpkin and the heart are the two big “solid” holiday shapes. The heart needs 15 numbers and the pumpkin 16, so the pumpkin runs a little longer. In a 500-card room our simulation puts the first heart around call 52 and the first pumpkin around call 53.
Tips for players
- The middle three columns rule. You need every I, N and G number on your card except I1 and G1, that’s 12 of your 16 numbers.
- B and O need only two each. Rows 3 and 4 in each outer column.
- Pace yourself. This is nearly blackout length, so keep marks clean on every card.
Tips for callers and hosts
The pumpkin is a showpiece for October: Halloween bingo nights, harvest festivals and fall fundraisers. At 16 numbers it’s a long game, so give it a sizeable prize and run it late, before the blackout. For a lighter Halloween run, start with the witch’s hat and finish with the pumpkin.
Our Halloween bingo cards suit costume parties and classrooms, where a word-based game may work better than numbers.
Variations
- Pumpkin without a stem: 16 squares and 15 numbers.
- Crazy pumpkin: turned any direction (the stem can point to any edge).
Frequently asked questions
What squares make a pumpkin in bingo?
N1 for the stem, I2, N2 and G2, all of rows 3 and 4, and I5, N5 and G5. The corners and the edges of rows 1, 2 and 5 stay empty to round the shape.
How many numbers do you need for a pumpkin?
Sixteen. The pumpkin covers 17 squares and the free space is in its center.
When is the pumpkin pattern played?
It's a Halloween and fall favorite, used at October sessions, harvest festivals and Thanksgiving events.
Keep reading
Witch's Hat Bingo Pattern: Rules, Odds & Tips
The witch's hat bingo pattern is a tall pointed hat on a wide brim: 13 squares including the free space, so 12 numbers. See the layout and exact odds.
Heart Bingo Pattern: Rules, Odds & Tips
The heart bingo pattern is a solid heart of 16 squares, including the free space, so you need 15 numbers. See the layout, exact odds and Valentine's tips.
Blackout Bingo Pattern: Rules, Odds & How Many Calls It Takes
Blackout bingo means covering all 24 numbers on your card. See the pattern, how many calls a blackout usually takes, and why it pays the biggest prizes.
Free Printable Halloween Bingo Cards for Kids, Classrooms and Parties
Free printable Halloween bingo cards with 52 spooky-but-friendly words. Unique cards for class parties, trick-or-treat nights and family game night.