MEDIA ALERT Giant Pumpkin Carving Weekend at The New York Botanical Garden Features North America’s Largest Pumpkin on Display Pumpkin Sculpture of Day of the Dead Tableau, Carved by Ray Villafane and His Team, Also on Display Saturday and Sunday, October 24 & 25, 2015 For Immediate Release October 19, 2015 What Giant pumpkins, including the largest in North America, will once again be on display at The New York Botanical Garden on Saturday and Sunday, October 24 and 25, 2015 from 10 a.m.–6 p.m. at the 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 will transform the giant pumpkins into a Dia de los Muertos tableau. Visitors will enjoy daily Q&A sessions with him and his additional carvers as the pumpkins are shaped into whimsical Day of the Dead skeletons. In addition to the 2,230.5 pound North American record holder, two other winning pumpkins will be 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 break last year’s North American record of 2,058 pounds. Who • Ray Villafane, Master Carver and his team from Villafane Studios • Growers from The Great Pumpkin Commonwealth, the recognized standard of weights, measurement, and fairness of competitive growing. When Saturday and Sunday, October 24 & 25, 2015, 10 a.m.–6 p.m. Where The New York Botanical Garden Clay Family Picnic Pavilions, Bronx River Parkway (Exit 7W) at Fordham Road in the Bronx Media Contact Nick Leshi, Director of Public Relations, NYBG, 718.817.8658 or nleshi@nybg.org
