In the heart of Park Slope, Brooklyn, an astonishing tradition has captivated residents and visitors alike for several years. Charlie Pigott, whose family has deep roots in the neighbourhood stretching back over 150 years, has transformed a simple display into an annual event drawing people from all corners to marvel at colossal pumpkins.
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The tradition took off in 2016 when Pigott, on a drive home from dropping his daughter Elizabeth at boarding school in Connecticut, spotted a 100-pound pumpkin by the roadside. He couldn’t resist pulling over to snag the unexpected find, and upon arriving home, he proudly showcased it on his porch. This humble beginning was just the start of a pumpkin saga that would grow rapidly over the years.
In subsequent years, Pigott’s son, George, stepped in to assist with sourcing these impressive gourds. The family’s commitment to finding ever-larger pumpkins led them to the farms of Pennsylvania, where they began securing pumpkins weighing up to 300 pounds. However, their ambition didn’t stop there. In 2021, George discovered a gargantuan pumpkin which, though initially dismissed by Pigott for its seemingly ambiguous size in photos, turned out to be a behemoth that required a group effort to hoist onto their stoop.
Today, their annual pumpkin displays feature pumpkins weighing between 900 and 1,150 pounds, a testament to the Pigott family’s unwavering dedication to this seasonal pastime. Pigott admits that once they embraced the challenge of larger pumpkins, returning to smaller sizes simply wasn’t an option. “Once we went big, we couldn’t go back,” he recounted.
The lead-up to pumpkin season is a lengthy affair, beginning as early as the summer months. Pigott discusses how farmers nurture the pumpkins from early spring, with their growth from the size of a basketball to a staggering weight in a few short months. He fondly recalls how, over the years, local farmers have become more accommodating, even sending him pictures to help in selecting their pumpkins.
Once the perfect pumpkin is chosen, the logistical challenge of transporting it from the farm to their home begins. Initially relying on the muscle of friends and family, Pigott now utilises a rented forklift to manoeuvre the heavy gourds onto the stoop, a sign of both the display’s popularity and its growing scale.
This year, the chosen pumpkin tipped the scales at approximately 1,000 pounds and travelled all the way from Honesdale, Pennsylvania. The Pigott family sets the pumpkin out during the first holiday weekend in October, keeping it on display until the Thanksgiving holiday. Rather than disposing of the pumpkin post-Thanksgiving, the family engages in environmentally friendly practices by composting it, chopping it into manageable pieces rather than simply throwing it away.
While the looming crowds can be overwhelming at times—Pigott noted instances of people queuing to take photos with the pumpkin—he finds solace in the joy it brings to children. He remarked, “For the kids, the whole thing’s magical. Pumpkins, no matter how big they are, represent Halloween.” For Pigott, the smiles of local children are a significant motivation to continue this tradition.
Pigott’s connection to Park Slope runs deep, further strengthened by his past community engagements, from serving on church boards to leading local youth sports teams. He views his pumpkin display as a small way of giving back to a community that has contributed significantly to his own family’s legacy. “It is one small gesture for me,” he reflected.
Despite the effort and energy required to procure and transport such an extraordinary pumpkin, Pigott maintains a grounded perspective on the entire endeavour. “At the end of the day, it’s just a pumpkin,” he states. Yet, the admiration it draws is anything but ordinary. Local residents often stop to ask about the pumpkin, intrigued by its sheer size and the effort behind its display.
Pigott enjoys the interactions with his neighbours and visitors, embracing the social aspect of this seasonal event. “I love people. People are like oxygen for me,” he said, highlighting his enjoyment of these encounters. His enthusiasm for his pumpkin display extends beyond the physical object itself; it represents a bridge connecting him with his community, fostering a sense of togetherness during a key moment in the calendar.
“I see it as a gift to Park Slope,” Pigott remarked, adding that once the pumpkin adorns his stoop, it transitions into a communal asset: “It belongs to the community.” Through this charming tradition, Charlie Pigott not only brings joy to local families but also solidifies his family’s legacy in the fabric of Park Slope.