Pumpkin Carving His Claim to Fame

Scott Cully lives in Oregon now, outside of Eugene. But the pumpkin-carving pastime that earned him a place in the Guinness Book of World Records began in Sharon, CT, in the northwest corner of the state, back in 1988.

As Cully, 51, tells the story, he and his wife sat out on their porch one beautiful autumn afternoon with a jug of hard cider and a 400-pound pumpkin. That combination – the beautiful day, the great company, the cider and the pumpkin – inspired a three-dimentional work of art that was the hit of the Halloween party the couple later attended that night.

"It's a blast," Cully said of his hobby as he carved chunks out of a 1,568.5-pounder at Foxwoods this morning. He will be working on that behemoth throughout the day, until 7 p.m. tonight. He plans to carve at least three faces, which he inks onto the pumpkin as he goes.

You can see his creation tonight at the Foxwoods Halloween Bash 2001, beginning at 9 p.m in the Grand Pequot Ballroom. Tickets are $35, and the party includes costume contests and prizes, hors d'oeuvres (cash bar), music and dancing. Must be 21 to attend.

Cully's former world record was for an 1,810.5-pound jack-o-lantern. The record has since been eclipsed. "I'm a former world record holder," he clarified.

Even so, pumpkin carving has been a doorway to the world for Cully, whose day job is at the Fall Creek Farm and Nursery at Fall Creek, OR. He's plied his pumpkin-carving skills in Canada, Ireland, and Germany, where he was just last week. This is his third time carving at Foxwods.  

It is good to have a hobby.