It's that time of year again in Brooklyn when the air turns crisp and locals are treated to an autumn spectacle that weighs in at a whopping 1,000 pounds. We're talking about the now-famous giant pumpkin that has become a seasonal landmark on the stoop of Charlie Pigott's brownstone. According to a report by ABC7 New York, this massive gourd has been halting passersby in their tracks, with one neighbor exclaiming, "I've never seen a pumpkin this big before. It definitely makes you stop and look."
Pigott, a fourth-generation Brooklynite, began his impressive Halloween tradition a decade ago with a modest 100-pound pumpkin. With each year, he ambitiously upsized, vowing to never again go small after the third year brought a 1,000-pound behemoth to his doorstep. In a move that has to surely capture the spirit of the season, Pigott rents a forklift just to properly display his find. "We got a great pumpkin this year. Very happy with the shape, color, size," Pigott told ABC7 New York.
But what's a massive pumpkin without a bit of history and folklore? Celebrations like Pigott's tap into a legacy that dates back over 9,000 years. The Brooklyn Paper highlighted National Pumpkin Day in a recent article, noting the pumpkin's origins in Mexico and its evolution into a Halloween icon thanks to Irish immigrants. They brought the Jack-o'-lantern tradition with them to America, where pumpkins were found to be a more suitable canvas than turnips or potatoes for their spooky creations.
While this pumpkin isn't destined to become a Jack-o'-lantern or part of a Thanksgiving pie, it plays a significant role in community bonding and local tradition. Visitors, from six-year-olds to social media influencers, flock to 69 8th Ave. for an annual photo op with the "most giant pumpkin in the world," as young Peony described to ABC7 New York. And if you happen to have a green thumb, Pigott is more than happy to share the seeds of his giant gourd once Thanksgiving rolls around, after which he will rapidly transition to spreading Christmas cheer.
