Pumpkin Dump 2025

For my final act of Halloween defiance this season, I was able to get my pumpkins out for the ninth year in a row for my annual Pumpkin Dump!

Starting back in 2017, I decided that I wanted to do something more than simply toss my post-Halloween pumpkins into the trash, and ended up covertly setting them up in a local metropark to much surprise and joy... and it has become an annual tradition ever since.

Every year I look for a new, creepy location to set up my jack-o-lanterns and extend the Halloween season for a bit longer. An Easter egg of sorts to anyone who happens to see them, and food for the local wildlife at the very least.

This year, I paid homage to the Dump locations from 2021, 2023, and 2024. We have a long, ever-expanding main road through town filled with commercial and industrial parkways, continually springing new buildings into any remaining available space. And while these buildings and warehouses to continue to pop up, the original, now abandoned and quickly deteriorating homes sit rotting, waiting to be leveled to make way for the next new construction project.

Lucky for me, these forgotten and ignored homes serve as the perfect location for my annual pumpkin dump. Rotten and decayed, overgrown and just a bit intimidating. I set up my pumpkin display to complete the autumn image of fright!

With help from Brother Scrapes, we loaded up all 23 pumpkins from this year's display and headed out. We calmly parked in what was once a driveway to the house and went to work in the cold, rainy, and dreary morning. We quickly got some photos and videos of the setup, then slipped away completely unnoticed.

Another perfect Pumpkin Dump to end another really great Halloween season!

Please enjoy my annual submission to the Great Pumpkin Project, the Highbury Cemetery Pumpkin Dump 2025…

  

2024 Pumpkin Dump Video

Just a quick Instagram video to share from this year's Pumpkin Dump. Another successful drop at another local, abandoned house. They really do make a great backdrop!

Enjoy!

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#pumpkindump2024

For my final act of Halloween defiance this season, I was able to get my pumpkins out for the eighth year in a row for my annual Pumpkin Dump!

Starting back in 2017, I decided that I wanted to do something more than simply tossing my post-Halloween pumpkins into the trash, and ended up covertly setting them up in a local metropark to much surprise and joy... and it has become an annual tradition ever since.

Every year I look for a new, creepy location to set up my jack-o-lanterns and extend the Halloween season for a bit longer. An Easter egg of sorts to anyone who happens to see them, and food for the local wildlife at the very least.

This year, I again paid homage to the Dump locations from 2021 and 2023. Shortly after successful pumpkin dumps, the old, abandoned houses were both completely torn down by the city, leaving only an empty dirt lot where the houses (and the pumpkins) once sat. Could I possibly make it three?

Luckily, there was still one more old, abandoned house left. Completely forgotten and overgrown, the derelict house sits close to the highly traveled road, lending itself to another perfect, highly visible dump location. And this one sits right next door to the Forest Of Screams, a local haunted attraction. The perfect Halloween offering! 

I loaded up all 21 pumpkins from this year's display and headed out. I calmly drove up what was once a driveway to the house, parked behind some overgrown bushes, and went to work. I quickly got some photos and videos of the setup, then slipped away completely unnoticed.

Another perfect Pumpkin Dump to end another really great Halloween season!

Please enjoy my annual submission to the Great Pumpkin Project, the Highbury Cemetery Pumpkin Dump 2024…

 

#pumpkindump2023

For my final act of Halloween defiance this season, I was able to get my pumpkins out for the seventh year in a row for my annual Pumpkin Dump!

Starting back in 2017, I decided that I wanted to do something more than simply tossing my post-Halloween pumpkins into the trash, and ended up covertly setting them up in a local metropark to much surprise and joy... and it has become an annual tradition ever since.

Every year I look for a new, creepy location to set up my jack-o-lanterns and extend the Halloween season for a bit longer. An Easter egg of sorts to anyone who happens to see them, and food for the local wildlife at the very least.

This year, I paid homage to the Dump location from 2021. Shortly after a successful pumpkin dump, the old, abandoned house was completely torn down by the city, leaving only an empty dirt lot where the house (and the pumpkins) once sat.

Luckily, just one lot down sat yet another old, abandoned house. Completely forgotten and overgrown, the derelict house sits equally close to the highly traveled road, lending itself to another perfect, highly visible dump location. 

I loaded up all 13 pumpkins from this year's display and headed out. I calmly drove up what was once a driveway to the house, parked behind some overgrown bushes, and went to work. I quickly got some photos and videos of the setup, then slipped away completely unnoticed.

Another perfect Pumpkin Dump to end a really great Halloween season!

Please enjoy my annual submission to the Great Pumpkin Project, the Highbury Cemetery Pumpkin Dump 2023…

  

#pumpkindump2022

For the sixth year in a row, I was able to sneak out and get creative with my jack-o-lanterns after this year's Halloween celebrations. Starting back in 2017, I decided that I wanted to do something more than simply tossing them into the trash, and ended up covertly setting them up in a local metropark to much surprise and joy... and it has become an annual tradition ever since.

Every year I look for a new, creepy location to set up my jack-o-lanterns and extend the Halloween season for a bit longer. An Easter egg of sorts to anyone who happens to see them, and food for the local wildlife at the very least.

This year, I had a partner in crime who ended up suggesting a perfect location for this year's dump - my brother, Scrapes! And he even volunteered to help on the unloading, which was a welcome offer!

I got up at dawn and loaded all 19 jacks into the car. I then picked up Scrapes, and we drove over to the darkened, abandoned building. 

Sitting empty since the end of 2016, the old Dimitroff's Furniture and Design building had fallen into quick disrepair with nature taking a firm hold of the structure. We stepped carefully, setting up the pumpkin display at an angle sure to grab the most attention. And then we simply slipped away, completely undetected.

Another perfect Pumpkin Dump to end a really great Halloween season. Thanks to brother Scrapes for helping make this another successful (and mischievously fun!) pumpkin dump.

Please enjoy my annual submission to the Great Pumpkin Project, the Highbury Cemetery Pumpkin Dump 2022…

And before we quietly slipped away, I was able to shoot a quick video of our work. A long expanse of perfect pumpkin bliss. This was a great pumpkin dump, and it is going to take some searching to top this location for next year!

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#pumpkindump2021

For the fifth year in a row, I was able to sneak out and get creative with my jack-o-lanterns after the Halloween celebrations. Back in 2017, I decided that I wanted to do something different instead of simply tossing them into the trash, and ended up covertly setting them up in a local metropark to much surprise and joy...

Three years ago, I again found a unique, highly-visible area in a local cemetery and was able to set up another display, remaining undetected. It was such a success, I even had friends taking photos of the set-up without even knowing who was responsible for it!

Two years ago, my new home opened up a vast expanse of new Pumpkin Dump locations, and I found the perfect sliver of rot nestled into a dense, overcrowded packing of retail expanse. It became a nice little social commentary on overdevelopment. Sticking a pumpkin-flavored tongue out to the oblivious hordes traveling in and out of the area.

Last year, I went much more low key with a nice, quiet cemetery off the main roads, where the pumpkins would remain for quite some time.

This year, I found an absolutely fantastic location. An abandoned, run down house that sits right on a very busy road close to Highbury Cemetery. Yet, if you didn't specifically look for it, you'd probably drive right past it without a second look. It would be a perfect backdrop to set up my pumpkins and have them sit untouched for a long, long time.

I got up before dawn and loaded all 13 jacks into the car. I met this year's pumpkindump cohort, my brother Scrapes, and we drove over to the dark house. Even at such an early hour, there was still a good amount of traffic, so we quietly pulled into the driveway, turned off all the lights and got to work. We made quick work of setting up the jacks in a perfect arrangement, making sure each was visible from the road between the clumps of overgrown brush and random trash from other previous explorers to the old decrepit house. Once everything was set, I grabbed my camera, got a few great shots, and then we snuck out undetected.

Another perfect Pumpkin Dump to end a great Halloween season.

Please enjoy my annual submission to the Great Pumpkin Project, the Highbury Cemetery Pumpkin Dump 2021…

As an added bonus, I ended up throwing old tea lights into each pumpkin before leaving. I wanted to make sure these pumpkins were seen even after the sun went down, just to give it that little extra bit of creepiness. Can you imagine driving down the road at night, then seeing this out of the corner of your eye??