The Annual Minneapolis Pencil Sharpening Ceremony: A Unique Community Tradition
Over 1,000 individuals gathered Saturday in a picturesque Minneapolis neighborhood to partake in an annual tradition: the sharpening of a colossal No. 2 pencil. The 20-foot pencil, crafted from a massive oak tree, is located at the home of John and Amy Higgins. This transformation came about after a storm damaged the beloved tree, snapping off its crown. While some neighbors mourned its loss, the Higgins family saw an opportunity to breathe new life into it.
The sharpened pencil ceremony has turned into a community event, mesmerizing crowds in the Lake of the Isles neighborhood with music and celebratory activities. Attendees often don costumes resembling pencils or erasers. This year’s entertainment included Swiss alphorn players. The hosts honored Minneapolis native and music legend Prince, distributing purple pencils on what marked his 67th birthday. Attendee Rachel Hyman flew in from Chicago to be part of the unique event, having heard about it from a friend. “Some man is sharpening a pencil on his lawn and this is what happens? Yeah, I’m gonna be part of it. How can you not? Life is too short,” stated Hyman, who donned a pencil costume.
Following the storm, the Higginses aspired to carve a sculpture from their tree that would be both whimsical and recognizable. Rather than crafting a typical chainsaw-carved bear, they settled on an oversized pencil. Amy Higgins explained, “Why a pencil? Everybody uses a pencil. Everybody knows a pencil.” They collaborated with wood sculptor Curtis Ingvoldstad, who shaped a replica of a classic Trusty brand No. 2 pencil. Ingvoldstad encouraged personal interpretation, stating, “People interpret this however they want to. They should.” He emphasized that even negative reactions are valid. “Whatever you want to bring, you know, it’s you at the end of the day. And it’s a good place. It’s good to have pieces that do that for people.”
John Higgins explained that the event was designed to foster community spirit. “We tell a story about the dull tip, and we’re gonna get sharp,” he said. The pencil symbolizes renewal; with each sharpen, there is potential for fresh starts, like writing a new love letter or a thank-you note. This symbolic renewability resonates with attendees.
Each year, a large, custom pencil sharpener is used to maintain the pencil’s tip. It gradually shortens with every sharpening, sometimes by 3 to 10 inches annually. The family is content with the idea that one day it might become a mere stub. According to Ingvoldstad, “Like any ritual, you’ve got to sacrifice something. So we’re sacrificing part of the monumentality of the pencil, so that we can give that to the audience that comes, and say, ‘This is our offering to you, and in goodwill to all the things that you’ve done this year.’”