Hulks of the Harvest! Giant Gourds Festival Celebrates Five Years of Cucurbit Curiosity and One Ton Pumpkin Fun!
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact:
Michael Dongilli, 412.726.7540
mjdongilli@comcast.net
mjdongilli@comcast.net
Image 1: Pittsburgh Monster Pumpkins Festival Logo;
Image 2: Giant Pumpkin Carvings from 2021 Pittsburgh Monster Pumpkins Festival [Click images for larger view]
Image 2: Giant Pumpkin Carvings from 2021 Pittsburgh Monster Pumpkins Festival [Click images for larger view]
HULKS OF THE HARVEST! GIANT GOURDS FESTIVAL CELEBRATES FIVE YEARS OF CUCURBIT CURIOSITY AND ONE TON PUMPKIN FUN!
PITTSBURGH, PA (PittsburghNewsWire.com) — Pumpkins standing five feet tall and wide, weighing over a ton and, throughout the weekend, dropped 140-feet high from a crane—obliterating the three-foot deep pool of water that catches them.
Dunkin’ punkins’ this way happens only once a year in western Pennsylvania during what has become the City’s signature, and certainly most elephantine, pumpkin field of FREE family fun—Pittsburgh Monster Pumpkins Festival.
This year’s event, a five-year anniversary celebration, happens Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 15-16, in the Stacks Courtyard—part of the 3 Crossings campus development in the Strip District on Railroad Street. “It’s called “monster” for a reason,” says Michael Dongilli of Vivid Pittsburgh, the event’s producer/manager. “The featured pumpkins on display—or carved, dropped and used in various other activities here—range from 900 to over 2,500 pounds. They are massive fruits nurtured to near perfection by some of the nation’s most successful heavy hitters [an industry term used to describe competitive pumpkin growers who consistently produce giants].”
Since the onset of the festival in 2018, Pittsburgh’s “valley of pumpkin giants” has annually become one of the most colossal collection of cucurbits in the world. Within the past five years, the event has developed a deservingly jumbo reputation by:
- displaying the largest pumpkin grown in the world (2019) weighing 2,518 pounds
- setting a world record for largest jack-o-lantern carved (2019) weighing 2,118 pounds
- featuring the largest pumpkin grown in North America (2021) weighing 2,365 pounds
- claiming a world record (2021) for “heaviest grouping” of giant pumpkins at a single site with a “ten pumpkin”average weight of 2,032 pounds.
These oversized specimens originate from a special seed propagated over 40 years ago called the Atlantic Giant. Genetics, growing techniques and years of fertilizing science continue to push the size and weights to mystifying proportions. “By far, the most commonly asked question by spectators is always ‘Are these real,’” says Dongilli.
Except for the glass ones hand blown by local artisans from Vessel Studios in the city’s Southside, who perform at the festival both days, all of the pumpkins at the event are “the real thing” and—as it relates to the 1,000 to 2,000-pounders on site—fruity freaks of Mother Nature.
For a concentrated and serious group of cultivators worldwide, competitive pumpkin growing is a proud passion–rewarding them with brief fame, some fortune and, above all, an immense gratification for turning a half-inch seed into a herculean fruit surpassing the weight of a small car.
In Pittsburgh, spectators are treated to a prolific patch of them. Often struck with awe as they meander through a nearly surreal scene of staged giant squash, the astonishment becomes admiration when they discover how the pumpkins are produced, picked [it takes a forklift to hoist them] and paraded at the event.
“There are several major giant pumpkin festivals across the country, but Pittsburgh’s is unique in that its the only one nationally to combine multiple major elements of giant pumpkin exhibition,” explains Dongilli. “We carve them, drop them [into pools of water from heights of 140 feet], paint and position them so spectators can interact with the fruits in varying, always fun ways.”
The event is also looking to make history again, reclaiming the world record for largest jack-o-lantern, currently sitting at 2,350 pounds. “It has been a great year for growing giants. We expect to showcase quite a few pumpkins weighing over a ton and anticipate the City will have a new champion to applaud. We’ll see. There are still several more growing weeks in the season. Hopefully, the larger ones remain healthy and whole until they arrive.”
Picking Your Pumpkin Pleasure
Fans and families coming to the event will have engaging Fall-themed and gourd-filled activities competing for their attention and participation. Among the offerings:
- Prodigious portraits: one of the more indelible sights is the sculpted scene created by the carving quartet of: Dean Murray, Oregon; Danny Kissel, central Pennsylvania; Greg Butauski, Ohio; and Patrick O’Brien, North Carolina. This year marks their third consecutive appearance at the event as the master carving team transforming scratched, sawed, poked and peeled pumpkin skin and flesh into astonishing artworks. The four collectively rank among the top artists nationally in the field of temporary pumpkin art earning national and international acclaim with TV appearances on programs such as: Food Network, Tonight Show, Martha Stewart and even the White House. “Prehistoric Pittsburgh” is this year’s predominate theme, with sculpted dinosaurs expected to dominate the varying shades of orange organic canvass.
- Drops and plops: we call it the world’s most stupendous splash…and rightfully so. A 2,000+ pound pumpkin plummeting 140-feet down into a stationary pool of water causes a wave of excitement and a titanic soaking. “For sure, the biggest crowd pleaser in our repertoire,” says Dongilli. There are two drops each day of the event including the annual Project Bundle-Up Drop for charity. For a $10 donation, spectators get a numbered ping-pong ball in the pool. The ball that travels farthest from the pool wins a great grand prize—this year, a Smart Home Starter Kit that includes, among other elements, an Amazon Echo Show, Ring Doorbell Pro and Blink outdoor security camera system. Balls are available now at: https://give.salvationarmy.org/event/fifth-annual-project-bundle-up-pumpkin-drop/e421441
- Cozy carriages: running all day long, the wagons are pulled by majestic Percheron horses from Misty Lane Farms. Immensely popular, the rides add quite a bit of charm and enchantment to the day.
- Glass gourds: Vessel Studio Glass, featuring the husband and wife glass–blowing team of Drew and Jeannine Hine, bring plenty of hot air to fuel the multiple shows/demos they perform over the weekend. Included with their performances?…hand-blown glass pumpkins in multiple colors and sizes, along with other intricate items, available for purchase.
- Hay there: new to our assortment of giant surprises, round bales of hay measuring 4’ high and 5’ wide. Our talented team of graffiti artists—Max Gonzalez, Shane Pilster and Scott Brozovich—will spray, shape and spread these stupendous straw mounds into rather craggy, but incredibly creative, works of art, following the dinosaur pumpkin carving motif. It’s a first for the event and artists—who are chomping at the bit at the challenge.
- Pumpkin pie plunge: our pie eating contests are a festival favorite. We keep it simple: be the first to chow down and keep down, a 9-inch, whipped creamed topped bakery pie and some special prizes are yours. The twist? No hands, no utensils, nothing but a face plant into the pie is allowed. We choose 10 energized eaters for each day. For a chance to enter: https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=604339011166862&set=a.332097008391065
- Character charm: for little tykes and those who just can’t resist creating a child-like moment for themselves…photo-op stations featuring dressed- and dolled-up characters to capture that perfect picture. The authentically dressed role players appear at scheduled times each day and include Snow White and Spider-Hero on Oct. 15 and Cinderella and Space Ranger Oct. 16.
- Devilishdash: new for 2022, our Pumpkin Pedal Pull challenges the finest, fittest and just about any frivolous adult to manifest their mojo as they attempt to pedal a 300-500 pound pumpkin slightly up hill in the fastest time…all for some good prizes and, ok we admit it, very little glory.
- Pumpkin patch aplenty: 70+ craft, food/drink and other vendors will make their wares available. There’s also a “late season” farmer’s market, too, supplied by New Castle based Sperdute Farms. Direct from their fields—an array of seasonal and savory products. Festival goers will find decorative and pie pumpkins, along with a vibrant mix of gourds and jars of tasty jams and spicy spreads.
Says Dongilli, “It has become a must Fall event for thousands of people in western Pennsylvania and really the tri-state. Combined with the seasonal beauty this time of year here, it’s the perfect fun, family-friendly festival. And, it’s FREE. For a complete schedule and up-to-the-minute details visit: monsterpumpkins.com
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