DIY Halloween Solar Pumpkin Path Lights (No Power Tools Needed!)

Our 8 Easy DIY Halloween Lighting Ideas were a smash hit last year. We’ve returned for the Halloween season with another easy DIY project that has a great payoff! We saw these solar-powered pumpkin lights circling around on social media last year, but all the DIY projects used power tools and drills. So, we reworked these Halloween walkway lights to eliminate the need for expensive equipment, making your project that much easier. Follow along with our steps below, or check out our video on social media.

The materials needed for this project are easy to acquire and relatively cheap.

• Plastic pumpkin bucket
• Box cutter
• Marker or pen
• Wire cutters/scissors
• LED solar path lights

When choosing a solar light for your project, make sure to choose one with the solar panels on top of the light and not an adjustable side piece. When you stick the path light into the pumpkin, the solar panel must be visible, or it will not charge properly. Our round solar path lights are a great option for this DIY project since their solar panel will not be obstructed when you fit it into the pumpkin pail. Plus, they are very affordable! 

Using solar path lights is a cost-effective option for lighted holiday decor because they do not require electricity to run. As long as your lights are in direct sunlight for the necessary charging time, they will provide enough lighting to keep your house looking festive all season long. Additionally, once you are done with this decoration, you can reuse your path lights year-round.

Step 1: Cut off the bucket handles with scissors or a wire cutter.

Step 2: Measure the circumference of the solar path light stem where it will intersect with the pumpkin bucket. If your path lights have a detachable stake, take off the stake and trace the circumference of the stem onto the middle of the pumpkin bottom using a marker or pen. If your path light stem is not the same width through the entirety of the stem, find the approximate point where the stem and bucket will intersect and measure the circumference using a flexible tape measure.

Step 3: Using your box cutter, cut a hole in the bottom of the pumpkin around the circle you drew. Be sure not to cut the hole too large; you want it to be just barely wide enough for the path light stem to fit in. The friction of the hole and stem will keep the pumpkin in place and prevent it from sliding down. We also recommend cutting small holes around the bottom of the pumpkin bottom to let rain and water build up filter out.

Step 4: Insert the path light into the pumpkin bucket. We found it easier to remove the ground stake from the light and feed the path light through the top of the bucket. Push the pumpkin bucket all the way up so there are no gaps. Then, reattach the ground stake.

If you cut your hole too large, you can fill any gaps with loose materials.

Repeat steps 1-4 for however many glowing pumpkins you want.

Step 5: Stick the path light in the ground. Remember, your LED path lights will require direct sunlight to properly charge. Be sure that your installation location receives enough light during the day.

Step 6: Turn your path light On and enjoy your glowing jack-o-lantern decor!

And there you have it! Your DIY solar pumpkin light project is complete. We hope you love this lighted Halloween decor project just as much as we do. For more ways on how to incorporate lighting into your holiday decorations, be sure to follow Super Bright LEDs on social media.

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