The Pumpkin Carver Master
Triangle eyes? Forget it. Scooped out insides? No way. When master carver Wayne Baranowski pulls out his chisels, what takes shape be fore your eyes is the sight of a lifetime that will have you talking for years to come. Every image is three dimensional...from wrinkles, to protruding noses, to a protruding tongue. What are these masterful creations? Pumpkins!

A Growing Pumpkin Phenomenon
Over the past decade, millions of people have witnessed the magic of Baranowski's carvings. From community festivals throughout the Midwest including the Morton Pumpkin Festival, the St. Anne Pumpkin Festival, the Good Shepherd Manor Fall Festival, and Bourbonnais Park District reenactment of the Legend of Sleepy Hollow, Baranowski's masterpieces have haunted, dazzled, and delighted audiences of all ages. From Baranowski's own creations (Screaming Man, the Indian Chef), to ghoulish monsters (Frankenstein, the Mummy, etc.) to cartoon favorites (Mickey Mouse, Grinch, Pumba from the Lion King), the three-dimensional images that take shape in the sides of a pumpkin are an unbelievable sight to behold. Baranowski has taken his show on the road throughout the Midwest. In addition to the festival circuit, Baranowski has been hired by heavy hitters like Navy Pier in Chicago, the Raddison Hotel in downtown Chicago, and major malls through Illinois. Typically, most of Baranowski's images are carved on pumpkins averaging 80 lbs. or larger!

The Word is Spreading
Baranowski's pumpkin magic has spread, earning his carvings local, state, and natural media attention. In October 2000, he carved live during a special Halloween segment on national television for the WGN morning news with weather man Paul Konrad, and was featured in the Chicago Sun Times, the Chicago Tribune, the Daily Journal in Kankakee, and through Associated Press (AP)

Who's Next?
It's always a mystery when Baranowski first carves into a pumpkin. Audiences never know what masterpiece will evolve as the artist works his magic. But regardless of how they start or who they become, every pumpkin is a unique creation that leaves audiences speechless with delight. Baranowski's shows typically draw hundreds of spectators.

Be sure to see Wayne and his special designs. Located in the center of the farm between the Funnel Cake Buidling and the Souvenir Photo Building.