Gigantic Pumpkin Comes to Maryland for Halloween

An enormous pumpkin is on display north of Baltimore.

Weighing in at a whopping 1,543 pounds, Big Earl has been luring visitors to Valley View Farms in Cockeysville since his arrival Wednesday, Oct. 7.

For years, the garden center has been hauling in the largest pumpkins it can find, according to staff, who told The Baltimore Sun: “Anytime you have extreme anything, people are drawn to it.”

Big Earl came to Maryland from New York, where his grower took the prize for the largest pumpkin at last weekend’s Central New York Great Pumpkin Festival.

After Valley View Farms purchased the pumpkin, the gourd made the journey south by box truck, according to The Sun.

Since Big Earl arrived in Maryland, he’s already received callers such as WJZ, WBAL and of course, a host of children.

Those who want to get a gander of Big Earl have until Halloween.

On Saturday, Oct. 31, Valley View Farms will cut open the pumpkin and count the seeds. In the meantime, visitors are encouraged to guess how many seeds he contains. The person whose guess is the closest will receive a $300 Valley View Farms gift card.

Valley View Farms Garden Center and Nursery is located at 11035 York Road in Cockeysville.