We have made a Pumpkin Family and display it on the front porch.
Need
Two dozen 6-inch skewers
Wax pencil
Child-safe pumpkin-carving saw
Toothpicks
Staples
Waxed twine
Round wood gouge
Gather some natural objects for decorating and for facial features: We used almonds, carrots, pearberries, pear leaves, pine cones, oak leaves, pumpkin seeds, gourds, hazelnuts, chrysanthemums, and radishes for eyes, ears, noses, mouths, and hair.
1. To make the bodies, select pumpkins in a range of sizes, stack, and secure them to one another with skewers.
2. To make faces, trace the object you will use for each feature onto pumpkin with wax pencil, then cut and scoop out a slightly smaller opening. Lay object on the opening, and press to wedge it in. Poke holes for small objects such as twigs and leaf stems using skewers or toothpicks. Push in staples to hold hair, such as dad's comb-over.
3. For glasses, twist a 2-foot-long twig; tie in place through the lenses with waxed twine. For an apron, tie Swiss chard onto twine.
4. For a hat, cut a small pumpkin in half horizontally and scallop the edge of the top using the wood gouge.
We have made Jack-O-lanterns. You can carve shapes and different designs on the sides and use the battery operated candles or a small flashlight. Last year we only had about 25 kids come to our door.
We have even made scarecrows and set them in a chair on our porch and used pumpkins as the heads.
As for cooking; we have made cookies, cakes, pies and muffins. Also have used them to toast marshmellows over the candles with a flame. Need to have an adult keep an eye on this activity tho.
You could also use washable paints to paint the pumpkins with faces. Then You could use the pumpkins for cooking with later on. Also can use as party favors with the little pumpkins.
cat lover 
When I was young we used to go "skinny dipping"; now we just "chunky dunk" 
