Gourd News! Pittsburgh Monster Pumpkins Festival Announces New Title Sponsor—LECOM

The only academic health center in the osteopathic profession, the College has entered a three-year agreement as the overarching sponsor of Pittsburgh’s most iconic and certainly prolific pumpkin patch.

 

This year’s event happens Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 21-22, in the Stacks Courtyard—­part of the 3 Crossings campus development in the Strip District on Railroad Street.

 

Entering its sixth year, the all FREE Monster Pumpkins Festival has become a “must see” Autumn attraction for spectators of all ages, who annually gather to see one of Mother Nature’s most incredible fruit feats in her repertoire.

 

“We’re extremely excited to affiliate the LECOM brand with this extraordinary and highly acclaimed festival,” says Matt Bresee, LECOM’s vice president of marketing, communications and organizational culture. “Part of our mission and ingrained into the core values of our culture is the establishment of strong community connections within the geographic footprints of our campuses and the areas where our student poplulations call ‘home.’ Western Pennsylvania is certainly one of those regions.”

 

Since the onset of the festival in 2018, Pittsburgh’s valley of pumpkin giants has become one of the most colossal collection of cucurbits in the world—with specimens ranging from 1,000 to over 2,500 pounds. The event has developed a deservingly jumbo reputation by:

 

 

“Having the title commitment and investment support of LECOM will allow us to continue to grow and confidently entrench the event,” says Michael Dongilli of Vivid Pittsburgh, the event’s producer/manager.

 

Through the support of LECOM’s sponsorship, the festival is also bringing back a popular component of the event—the LECOM Costume Caper 5K Run/Walk. The race, initially introduced at the event in 2019, was interrupted by the pandemic, but returns with one of most unique themes of any “run” around: participants are invited and encouraged to wear their favorite costumes as they trek the 5K course. “Prizes are awarded in several different dress-up categories,” says Dongilli.

 

He adds, “The festival is a highly anticipated attraction for tens of thousands of people in western Pennsylvania and really the tri-state. It’s the perfect fun, family-friendly thing to do.” And, it’s FREE. For a complete schedule and up-to-the-minute details visit: monsterpumpkins.com

 

To register for the Costume Caper 5K, visit: https://runsignup.com/Race/PA/Pittsburgh/PittsburghLECOMCostumeCaper5k