The City’s most spellbinding spectacle of colorfully colossal cucurbits, and signature “family fall festival” happens Oct. 18–19, 2025 at the City’s newest pumpkin patch place: 3 Crossings campus between 28th and 29th streets!
The Monster Pumpkin Festival promises one memorable and magical moment in time, made possible by the the world-famous ATLANTIC GIANTS—the most prodigious breed of pumpkins on the planet—with record weights well over 2,500 pounds!
Meet “The Best” In The Giant Pumpkin Carving Business.
 Dean Murray |  Danny Kissel |  Chris Foltz |  Ryan Anderson |
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!
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.
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!
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.
Fall Festival Fantasia
Foods, Drinks, Crafts…and Lots of Fall-Like Things to Fill Your Day.
A Pumpkin Patch Aplenty
Traditional foods and drinks that come with October and the Fall fill our banquet of tasty treats and enticing eats. You’ll discover an eclectic row of craft vendors and product makers, many from areas right here in our hometown…proud entrepreneurs and talented artisans who add tons of color and atmosphere to the festivities.
Kool Kids Stuff Too! at the Clearview Kids Corner
We didn’t forget the kids…family fun is what we’re all about and while we’re sure the little ones will be overwhelmed at seeing what will likely be their first giant pumpkin ever, our kids activities sponsor, Clearview, has some specific activities to satisfy their size as well…
- Clearview Kids “Pedal Tractor Pull”…for tykes 3-to 8 years-old, the fun is endless the fascination on your child’s face priceless. Watch as each child pedals a replica farm tractor while dragging a weighted sled behind them. Dragging creates friction, so the farther one pedals, the harder it gets…but the fun is in the experience…and the small prize each child receives for their effort
- “Color With Chrissy”…one of the best face painters in the tri-state, the talented and tastefully creative Christine Patton brings her palette of incredible designs to add joy and surprise to the faces of everyone.
- “Pumpkin Pics”…our famous “pumpkin man/pumpkin woman” and “pumpkin frame” iron sculptures all in one place for the best photo captures of the day
Follow the “Mad Science”…group opens the world of science to children internationally
Mad Science of Pittsburgh delivers unique, hands-on science experiences for children through after-school programs, workshops, special events and summer camps. Featuring innovative programs that are as entertaining as they are educational, the group aims to inspire children through science—sparking lifelong imagination and curiosity.
Appearing for the first time at this year’s festival, Mad Science will will dazzle and entertain children/spectators through their presentation of “Fire & Ice”…foggy dry ice storms, the power of air, and even a chemical flashlight will amaze audiences as they learn about chemical reactions, air pressure, and the states of matter! The shows happen twice a day, each day of the event.
Carlow Character Spots!
Our partners from the Carlow University Campus Laboratory School are pleased to present our highly popular and extremely engaging “select” selfi-spots—the CARLOW Character Spots—uniquely configured and staffed with an “authentic-looking”cast …we’ve created designated and delightful photo-op areas to help you frame—primarily for children and parents/guardians with child-like whims—memorable festival moments and social media ops while at the event.
The dressed- and dolled-up characters at each station will be surrounded by dynamic staging elements relevant to their costume themes and festival for that perfect picture. The characters appear at scheduled times each day of the event and dedicated festival staff will assist with individual/family photo taking as impersonating characters interact socially with guests.
Check the event schedule for character appearance times…there are two different characters featured each day of the event.
Pie Eating Plunge … Squash Sling
The pie-eating competition happens, Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 18-19. We’ll only select 10 lucky gluttons for each competition…so get in first, and start your pie prep now.
Plow into the Monster “Pumpkin Pie Plunge”
Gotta penchant for pie that’s whipped cream piled high? We’re searching for the ultimate pumpkin pie lovers. The ones who savor sugar, spice and dessert always twice. It’s your time…to showcase to all your pumpkin pie pride! Click Here to enter the Monster “Pumpkin Pie Plunge” eating contest and pack your tummy with calories so yummy.
Your challenge? Fly, face first, into a full size pie piled high with whipped creme and scrumptiously flavored with the season’s fruit of the month of course: pumpkin. Aah, but there’s a trick around this treat—no hands allowed…we set the time limit and whoever plows through first, or eats the most gets the win and grabs the prizes!
Got what it takes? Put your mouth where the pie is...must be 18 years of age or older.
It’s a Sling Thing
You’ve heard of punk’in chunk’in…well, we’ve got “squash sling’in” and it works just as it sounds…an oversized sling shot of sorts engineered, designed and carefully crafted—well that’s what we wanted to do if we had the time. Instead, we settled on a zany, d-i-y built pumpkin propeller contraption to launch small pie pumpkins through the air with ease…and simple, yet satisfying fun. We’ll give you some targets to tackle…and two, maybe three tries to hit’em…all just for the fun of it. So stop by and take a sling…give it a shot and watch’em go.
MAKE SURE TO FOLLOW ALONG FOR ALL THE FUN!
