IT’S WEIRD!

Introducing the First Annual LECOM Gourd Games!

The Theme: “Weird Science!”
The Task: 4 of the World’s Top Carvers In One Creative Competition!
The Time: 2 Days to Craft Your Best!
The Trophy: A Championship Belt and a Year to Gloat!

Meet “The Best” In The Giant Pumpkin Carving Business.

In the eight years of the event, we’ve displayed some incredible pumpkin carvings…sculptures towering over 10 feet tall…spanning nearly 30 feet long…showcasing massive monuments with indelible, often mind-blowing detail. Always though, these magnificent monuments were completed before the event…without much fanfare or focus on the artists behind them.

That changes now…with the debut of the LECOM Gourd Games—a friendly at the start, likely fierce near the end competition among four of the top giant pumpkin artists in the world. Headlining the show: Dean Murray, who’s been with the festival since its inception 8 years ago along with: Food Network Halloween Wars champion Danny Kissel; international world ice/wood carving champion Chris Foltz; and Season 2 winner of Food Network’s “Outrageous Pumpkins,” Ryan Andersen.

Each will have roughly two days to incorporate the “Weird Science” theme into their hopefully winning creations. The bulk of the competition will take place while the festival is going on, and…

…spectators will have a voice in choosing the winner through online voting…

Plus, you’ll get a chance to meet and watch these incredible artists craft their magic in what promises to be one of the most engaging “temporary art” performances anywhere.

Coloring the Cucurbits and More…Pumpkins, Burlap, Straw, Stalks…our Artists Spray’em All!

**PUMPKIN PAINTERS… LEFT TO RIGHT: David Scott Brozovich and Ashley Hodder of Steel Town Walls will use their collective artistic talents to “****spray the hay“…super-sized straw bales… steeltownwalls.com**

Scattered within the event footprint and around/behind its massive carving display will be humongous hay bales reflecting the expressive artistry of talented painters Scott Brozovich and Ashley Hodder of Steel Town Walls. The trio will “spray and shape” the bales into different character portraits complementing various festival motifs.

In addition to painting a few giant pumpkins, the artists will colorfully cover and craft several mammoth straw bales, stacked and shaped, around the 2025 event theme: Weird Science!

About the Artists:

DAVID Scott Brozovich: is a spray paint muralist and graffiti artist specializing in vibrant characters and dynamic letters. He has painted across the east coast and into the Midwest, bringing color and creativity to communities. As an educator, he teaches graffiti and mural art to children, fostering young talent through programs like those offered at Rivers of Steel and Danny Devine Studio. Co-founder of My City Sesh, Scott is also exploring graphic design with local clothing and screen printing projects. Passionate about advancing his career and inspiring the next generation of artists, “Scotty” is dedicated to showing young minds that art can be a viable and fulfilling career.

ASHLEY HODDER: As an artist with over 18 years of experience, Ashley has gained a reputation for transforming public spaces into vibrant cultural experiences through innovative art curation, community engagement, and her own art practice.Her skills in project management and creative collaboration have allowed her to successfully lead mural festivals and public art projects that not only enhance the visual landscape but also foster cultural exchange and community skills development. She is dedicated to creating impactful art experiences that connect diverse communities, bringing people together through creativity and shared experiences. By creating inclusive spaces for collaboration and expression, she aims to break down barriers and build connections between people from different backgrounds and perspectives.

One Fall Tops Them All…
The Explosive Thrill Of Our 200 Feet Down Pumpkin Drop…It Will Leave You Breathless!

One of the most prodigious plops anywhere in the world…and we do it four times during festival weekend…the Monster Pumpkin drop is one of the most transfixing spectacles ever created. A 2,000-pound plus pumpkin elevated over 200-feet high by crane…suddenly released from its holding harness and falling fiercely to the ground in the most heart-stopping seven seconds of wonder you’ll ever experience. It’s absorbed into a 10’-diameter, 3’-deep inflatable pool creating a thunderous fountain of water and an exhilarating, spellbinding splash !

Thanks to our friends from LOMMA Crane who, every year, create this memorable moment in time. Get ready, hold your breath…exhale in disbelief!

Drone View of 1,900 Pound GIANT PUMPKIN Falling 140 Feet to the Ground Into a 3-Foot Pool of Water!

Gourd-geous Glass

Vessel Studio Glass Adds Sparkle, Fire, and Flair to the Festival

Glass Blowing Becomes Intriguing Spectacle for Spectators of all Ages.

Pumpkins and glass…the artisans of Vessel Studio Glass are true champions of the glassblowing craft, demonstrating and showcasing the timeless, free-blowing technique. The studio owners and husband/wife team of Drew and Jeannine Hine bring their crew, furnace, plenty of talent and engaging showmanship to the event…enlivening crowd enthusiasm and wowing faces young and old as they turn molten glass into intricate and beautiful Fall-themed pieces of art.

Their shows are performative, instructive, educational and entertaining…and this year, they will be integrating their talents with those of our master carvers to produce some rather unique and expressive creations with real pumpkins.

Plus, the Studio brings and eclectic display of their hand-blown products to sell, all at special event pricing…flamboyant pieces that brighten any space or to make the perfect and extraordinary gift for your special someone. We promise: they’ll fire you up!

Cozy Carriage Rides…An Enchanting, Old-Fashioned Clomp and Stroll!

A Horse-Drawn Carriage Ride Adds Charm To Your Day!

The talented trainers and carriage drivers from Misty Lane Farms Performance Horses will have several of their teams on hand to create one idyllic setting and memorable gallop to your memories for the weekend. Two iconic carriages will be featured including a truly inviting “Cinderella-style” ride and a more traditional, direct-from-the-farm wagon—each pulled by a team of magnificent Percheron horses.

The carriages will run from 10 a.m., to 5:30 p.m. both days of the festival. But giddyap and don’t wait when you arrive.The activity is extremely popular and capacity on each carriage is limited. Proceeds from each ride benefit festival charitable partners.