A massive pumpkin and a town famous for Halloween came together for a one-of-a-kind celebration in Salem, Massachusetts.
On this episode of The Local Life, host Anna Rossi visits Salem as Raising Cane’s founder and owner Todd Graves unveils a jaw-dropping 3,156-pound giant gourd, creating a Halloween spectacle during the city’s 400th anniversary celebration.
From spooky traditions to unforgettable sights, see how Salem marked four centuries of history with a larger-than-life seasonal centerpiece.
When it comes to Halloween there is no place spookier than Salem,
Massachusetts and this year
Raising Cane's is adding to the festivities
by bringing a record-breaking pumpkin to life
on Salem Common and we're here to check it out.
You can feel Halloween everywhere you go.
I knew it was going to be big,
but seeing it in person is something else.
The jack-o'-lantern was unveiled earlier
this week and it broke not one,
but two Guinness World Records
with official weigh-in of 3,156 pounds and title for heaviest
jack-o'-lantern. The moment brought
together Raising Cane's love of Halloween,
With extraordinary carving artistry
and helped Salem celebrate its 400th anniversary in a really big way.
Thanks to Raising Cane's and founder Todd Graves,
everyone gets to enjoy this amazing Halloween treat.
So Todd, where does your love for Halloween
and Jack-o'-lanterns come from?
I just love, I love all holidays, but then Halloween
for me was just always so fun growing up and especially...
You know, the symbol of Halloween, carving jack-o'-lanterns.
So, like, for Halloween,
I started collecting giant pumpkins, like, seven years ago.
And from growers, and got networked with the growers,
and started collecting them.
And then when I started getting these big pumpkins over 2,000 pounds,
I was like, man, we want to do a world record one day.
And after seven years, we finally got
the world record pumpkin and greatest,
biggest jack-o'-lantern in the history of the world right here.
It's all about dreaming, and, you know, go for your dreams.
My dream was chicken fingers, right?
And if I didn't dream, then I got
the worst grade in business planning class.
Then if it wasn't still that dream, I never would have done it.
So there's just magical things people can do.
Creating avenues where people see and think about creativity
and things like that, to me, can change someone's life.
What's your wish for families this Halloween?
Hope everybody has the best Halloween.
Have fun, get out, trick or treat, have a good time.
And it's a special year, 400th anniversary of Salem,
which is the Halloween capital of the world.
The world record jack-o'-lantern exists this year,
so it makes it a very special Halloween.
And the good news? You can see it for yourself.
You can catch this massive jack-o'-lantern now through November 1st
and make a day of it.
So you can catch all those other fun things
that Haunted Happenings has to offer.
Happy Halloween, Salem.
The Local Life is brought to you by Raising Cane's.
If you want to be featured on The Local Life,
head to our website, boston25news.com slash thelocallife.
