The Carve returns

Posted by Rich Schwartzman on October 15, 2021

D'Oh!

After a year off because of the COVID pandemic, The Great Pumpkin Carve returned to the Chadds Ford Historical Society’s pumpkin patch. More than 50 carvers armed with saws, drills, knives, and chisels did creative battle with the huge gourds. Some creations were simple while others were more complex and elaborate, but the idea was to have fun.

Patrick Cabry with what started out as the face of the wolfman.

“It feels amazing to be back,” said Sandi Johnson, the event manager. “People are really hungry for the energy.”

“And the carvers can once again show their creativity,” added CFHS President Randell Spackman. After a year where there was only a virtual carve, he said “We’re getting the machine turned back on again, people want to get out and have something to look forward to.”

Some of that creativity reflected traditional Halloween imagery. Others reflected contemporary, such as Julian Noble carving a functional QR code on his pumpkin. A QR code — or quick response code — is a barcode done as a grid that people can use to access websites through their phones. Noble said he could program what website the code accessed.

A more traditional form came from Patrick Cabry who said he started carving the face of a wolfman but one that morphed into a face that was up for interpretation.

The QR Code by Julian Noble. Noble said it worked for some but not for others. Noble earned an honorable mention for best use of pumpkin.

In between was “Crazy Eddie,” a creation of the Anders Family of Phoenixville. Crazy Eddie was a head with a face and a bunch of leaves coming out of the head. And there was April Margera’s “Koo Koo Bird of Chadds Ford,” and a turtle by Heidi Brennan and friends.

There was also a haunted trail courtesy of Phyllis Recca and Gene Pisasale, raffle prizes, live music from Kenny & Friends, as well as a performance by "America's Got Talent" contestant, Dylan Zangwill.

The carve, with pumpkins on display, food trucks and live music runs through Saturday night.

Winners, as judged by the "Chadds Ford Neighbors Magazine Team" of Rachel Brown (Writer), Stacey Zarro (Photographer) & Elaine Gilbert (Publisher) are:

Best Overall

Pumpkin #43
"Godzilla"
Carvers: Jasen Wallace, William DeHaven, Kirstie Primus & Ivan DeHaven

Most Traditional Halloween

Pumpkin #37
"Haunted House"
Carver: Stoney

Best Use of Pumpkin

Pumpkin #33
"Frankenstein Lab"
Carvers: Michael Hall, Shannon Hall & Gwyneth Hall

April Margera with Koo Koo Bird of Chadds Ford.

Beware of who you might meet on the haunted trail.

About Rich Schwartzman

Rich Schwartzman has been reporting on events in the greater Chadds Ford area since September 2001 when he became the founding editor of The Chadds Ford Post. In April 2009 he became managing editor of ChaddsFordLive. He is also an award-winning photographer.