The Winners of the 2025 Orange County Library System Pumpkin Decorating Contest are here and ready for Halloween.
Earlier this month pumpkins were delivered to OCLS branches and departments for the 2025 Annual Pumpkin Decorating Contest. The contest is sponsored by the Friends of the Orange County Library System. The Friends of the Library help fund various programs and services for the library as well as staff development activities and scholarships. If you believe that everyone should be able to enjoy the privileges of information access, entertaining events and education, consider donating and becoming a Friend of the Library today.
OCLS is teeming with artistic talent, as evidenced by this year’s contest entries. The Friends of the Library Board selected the Adult Services department’s Highland Cow pumpkin as their winner and South Creek Branch’s Derpy Tiger pumpkin won the People’s Choice Award. Each winner is awarded a pizza party for their department or branch.
If you’d like to learn more about the Friends of the Orange County Library System and how you can get involved, please visit friends.ocls.org. Membership starts at just $15 per year and comes with serious perks, like discounts to our bookstore, invitations to special members-only preview sales, and the knowledge that you’re helping to make a difference in your community!
About the Highland Cow
Main Reference Librarian, Christina B. spearheaded the design, securing the win for Adult Services for the first time since she started working for OCLS.
“I used techniques that I had learned during my cosplay activities,” Christina said. “Several different people in the department helped and it was a great chance to get to know the newest additions to our department from Fiber Arts. My favorite moment from this was when someone said I was really good at this and should become a professional wig maker.”
Reference Librarian, Heidi W. created the crown with fall foliage braided with wire and secured with twine. “[Christina] is very good at fabricating amazing things out of simple materials like cardboard and paper,” Heidi said. “The annual pumpkin contest is a fun opportunity for team building across the system and share the creative talents of staff at OCLS with our community.”
About Derpy Tiger
South Creek staff members Mel R. and Jason C. worked together to create the pumpkin, with very special help from Delia C.
“This is the third year I’ve worked on South Creek’s pumpkin, and it’s one of my favorite systemwide traditions,” said Mel. “I’m so grateful I work somewhere that lets me engage my creativity and make memories with my wonderful coworkers.”
The team was excited to learn their pumpkin had won. “We were keeping track of the likes every few hours, so we were all pretty proud and excited even before it was officially announced,” said Mel. “The more entertaining reaction was when the pictures were initially posted and we realized seven departments had done the exact same thing.”
