Typically, around this time of year I decide to start carving pumpkins. I began carving pumpkins in 2010 as a way to take part in a contest. I started will real pumpkins, but realized that regardless of the measures taken to preserve them they wouldn't last but a few weeks. My contest entries never actually made it to that years Halloween. So the following year a began looking for alternative methods, and discovered that my local craft store carried these polyurethane foam pumpkins. While typically moderately expensive during the off season, they become a real bargain the closer it gets to the fall season.
Here are some of my pumpkins from past years.
Universal Monsters
Ghostbusters
Hollywood Slashers
Most of the foam pumpkins in my collection are between 5-7 years old. These things will last forever, and the bonus is they are water resistant so if they get dirty from setting in my storage cupboards I simply give them a quick rinse and they're good as new.