Giant Pumpkin Carving Weekend at NYBG

Giant pumpkins, including the largest in North America, was once again on display at The New York Botanical Garden on last  Saturday and Sunday, October 24 and 25, 2015 at the Botanical Garden’s Clay Family Picnic Pavilions, arranged in collaboration with the Great Pumpkin Commonwealth.This year’s North American record breaker, weighing 2,230.5 pounds, was grown by Ron Wallace from Rhode Island. Ron is a repeat winner, previously breaking the record in 2012 and 2006.

Master Carver Ray Villafane and his team from Villafane Studios  transformed the giant pumpkins into a Dia de los Muertos tableau. Visitors enjoyed daily Q&A sessions with him and his additional carvers as the pumpkins were shaped into whimsical Day of the Dead skeletons.

In addition to the 2,230.5 pound North American record holder (the largest pumpkin grown in the world this year), two other winning pumpkins were on display at the Botanical Garden – a 2,185 pounder grown by Josiah Brandt from Rudolph, Illinois, and one weighing 2,145 pounds, grown by Gene McMullen from Streator, Illinois. All the winning pumpkins broke last year’s North American record of 2,058 pounds. It was a very fun event, and brought us to the Halloween already!