Fairfield Man's Pumpkin-Carving Skills Spur Halloween Tradition

Every year at Halloween, a traffic jam ensues just North of the intersection at Green Valley and Rockville Roads.  Participants and spectators jockey for precious parking spots as crowds of people weave in and out of traffic.  Where is everyone going?  Well I’m about to tell you, but then again, seeing is believing.

When Craig Gillespie carved enough pumpkins to spell out “Happy Halloween” 16 years ago, he never could’ve dreamed that this one simple act would grow into an annual event or that it would draw crowds from as far as Utah and Seattle. He definitely didn’t realize that he’d be taking multiple days off from his medical practice or that hundreds of people, many complete strangers, would fill his home with food and laughter, all in the name of Halloween.

After four years of trick-or-treatless Halloweens, Craig decided to take matters into his own hands.  He had recently remodeled, cutting back overgrown trees and making his house more accessible, and had decided to light pumpkins and put them on his fence early enough so that parents would see them on their way home.  He hoped it would entice them to bring their children to trick or treat.  The fact that he handed out King sized candy bars was the clincher.  Craig knew that once the word was out, no “self-respecting” trick-or-treater would ever pass up his home again.

The following year, a neighbor boy named Sam, asked Craig if he could help carve the pumpkins.  The year after that, Craig saw the boy at the grocery store and couldn’t say no when he asked when they were carving pumpkins again.  Sam’s mom volunteered to clean the pumpkins.  That year they carved about 48 pumpkins.

In the years that ensued, more kids and more neighbors came, and the carving moved into the garage.  Pretty soon Craig had neighbors, relatives, patients and church members at his house carving pumpkins.  What started as an innocent invitation had grown into monstrous proportions. 

Last year over 200 family members and friends gathered to carve 583 pumpkins. 

But wait, there aren't just pumpkins, there is food too, and lots of it.  Because of where the home is situated, trick-or-treating can be a dangerous proposition.  For this reason, neighbors began to bring food over to Craig’s to enjoy his trick-or-treaters.  News of the food spread and soon visitors were bringing their own dishes to join in on the potluck.  Spectators and potluck lovers alike have come from as far as Southern California and Santa Cruz for this event.

Recently, Patch caught up with Craig to ask him a little more about his pumpkin menagerie:

What is the most popular pumpkin you’ve ever had?

It’s hard to say because different people like different things.  Harry Potter was very popular, but people also like the freehand animals.

What is the most original pumpkin you’ve seen?

Brad Hansen came out one year and embedded stained glass into a pumpkin.  Since then, I’ve done one every year.

What is your favorite pumpkin? 

My absolute favorite pumpkins are the little quails that are carved by Beth Ellis. This year we won’t have any because I can’t find the right shaped gourds.

Another pumpkin I loved was one carved by John Lovrin.  I saw him drilling a bunch of holes in the pumpkin and thought it was just going to be another luminaria.  When I lit it that night, I realized he had carved holes everywhere around the shape of a cat with an arched back and a moon. 

Do current events dictate your theme?

Not necessarily.  I don’t want people to think that I’m trying to sway their opinion.  I always stay neutral.  For example, this year we will have an Obama pumpkin and a Romney pumpkin.  We will also have a pumpkin that simply says “vote”.

Not sure if I’m still pulling your leg? 

Come see for yourself, pumpkins line Craig’s driveway and are artistically displayed in tiers under tents throughout his front yard.  They are lit for two days, Oct 31-Nov 1 from about 5pm to midnight.  

You will probably see at least one Giant's pumpkin, and maybe even a pumpkin for that other team...

For more information on Craig’s pumpkin patch or to see the pumpkin galleries, visit http://hematite.com/craig/