Winner of second place at the National Pumpkin Weigh-Off in Wheatland, California
Santa Rosa, Calif.- The Charles M. Schulz Museum is temporarily hosting a festive new photo op in its courtyard featuring a special guest of honor: a great (big) pumpkin. Weighing in at a whopping 2,301 pounds and measuring 4 feet tall by 7 feet wide, the pumpkin was grown by Russ Pugh from Eugene, Oregon, and recently came in second place at the National Pumpkin Weigh-Off in Wheatland, California. The pumpkin has found its new home at the Schulz Museum and will remain on view through October, and possibly longer if it remains in good condition.
"We invite visitors to come take photos and join Linus as he awaits The Great Pumpkin," Museum Director Gina Huntsinger said. "We believe our patch is the most sincere."
Introduced in 1959
The photo op is inspired by the famous Peanuts storyline in which Linus believes the Great Pumpkin visits only the sincerest pumpkin patch to deliver toys to deserving children. First introduced in the Peanuts comic strip in October 1959, the Great Pumpkin gained further prominence when the Peanuts storyline was adapted for television in the 1966 animated special It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown.
Watching the special and sharing Linus's hopeful spirit has since become a cherished Halloween tradition for fans of all ages.
Free day celebrating It's a Great Pumpkin
On October 27, the Museum will host a free day celebrating It's a Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown. Visitors can enjoy free admission all day (10:00 am-5:00 pm), watch the animated special on the big screen every half hour in the Museum's theater, pose with the photo op, and explore the galleries.
Several original Peanuts comic strips featuring the Great Pumpkin storyline are currently on view in the exhibition Peanuts Evolution: the 1960s. Other current exhibitions include Here Come the Beagle Scouts! and Bravo, Snoopy! Peanuts and Pawpet Theater.