Get a taste of Hamilton’s Operation Pumpkin on Saturday in Liberty Twp.

Credit: Nick Graham

Credit: Nick Graham

The 13th annual Operation Pumpkin festival in downtown Hamilton will happen next week, but for those pumpkin fans, there will be a special inaugural pop-up sculpting event on Saturday.

Saturday’s sculpting event at The Park at Liberty Center is an exclusive sneak peek into the artistry of the annual Operation Pumpkin festival that features carvers from around the region and country showing off their skills, said Jason Snyder, co-chair of the Operation Pumpkin Festival. It will run from 4-6 p.m.

He said it’s “a unique opportunity to witness the impressive craftsmanship that will be on full display during the festival.”

The free event from 4 to 6 p.m. Saturday will feature live pumpkin sculpting by artist William Wilson of Wicked Designz.

Operation Pumpkin opens at 11 a.m. and runs until 10 p.m. on Oct. 11 and 12. Hours Oct. 13 will be 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

“The central focus of this festival continues to be the giant pumpkins and extremely talented sculptors that make this festival a unique and special experience for everyone that visits,” said Snyder.

Jodi Fritsch, marketing director for Operation Pumpkin, said the festival has lasted for more than a dozen years, and “to be able to last so long, I think it says a lot about what the community thinks about the festival and what it means to them.” Around 60,000 people will descend into downtown Hamilton over the course of the three-day event to experience “what we know is awesome.”