PREVIEW

BY MARK WORGAN

Dolly Parton may have left us in 2026, but this Halloween she lives on in pumpkin form.

That’s all thanks to Jeanette Paras, from Ohio, in the US, who has spent 38 years creating celebrity pumpkin portraits reflecting the cultural mood of the moment.

Her latest creation, weighing 678lb (307kg), was grown and donated by John Harnica, from Dundee, Michigan.

Paras said choosing Parton was an easy decision, praising the singer’s contributions as a performer, philanthropist and businesswoman.

“We’re all Team Dolly this year,” said Paras, herself a two-time cancer thrive-r (a term she prefers to survivor). “She is the most joyful, unifying force of our time to young and old, to all political stripes, and for all musical tastes. For all that and a million other reasons, this year it’s Dolly.”

Paras’s previous creations include Taylor SwiftKin, Ted LassoKin, Baby YodaKin, Trumpkin, and PumpKim Jong Un.

She has also created pumpkins weighing as much as 1,200lb, including a portrait of Carol from Where the Wild Things Are, which was displayed at the Ohio governor’s residence.
Paras keeps the identity of each year’s subject under wraps until the big reveal, covering the windows of her studio — which she calls the “garage-mahal” — to prevent anyone from seeing her work in progress.

“This is top-secret stuff. Each year, I cover the windows of my studio/garage because no one knows who it will be until the reveal,” said Paras. “It’s so much fun to do this every time; I love the reactions from my neighbours and all the people who stop by to take pictures.”

Creating the portraits takes careful planning, with Paras drawing a sketch before scaling it up to fit the pumpkin’s uneven surface.

“You’ve got to start off with a clean pumpkin, so the pumpkin, or pumpkins get washed so the paint will stick. I do a small sketch, regular size, then I do a large to scale sketch. This year it is about 42 inches. So it’s giant. Some people use a projection. I don’t, I’m old school and I draw it from there and get the major features - and where they go on a 600 lb pumpkin. It’s not a flat surface.”

The painting process can take a week or two, and a forklift truck is needed to help with the unveiling of the larger creations.

Beyond the Halloween fun, Paras uses her work to raise money for breast cancer research.

She has partnered with the Stefanie Spielman Fund for Breast Cancer Research at the Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center (OSUCCC).

Paras, who has had breast cancer twice, said her experiences had helped her focus on what mattered most.

“When things aren’t going well that’s when you are tested and my two times with breast cancer that has helped remind me of the true priorities of life. I am grateful for that much.

“My first diagnosis was in 2001 and I found it myself. That’s why self exams are very important, I was 46. And then again in 2015 I had another bout. But that was only found with a 3D mammogram. It was caught early.”

She urged women to take care of their health and attend screening appointments.

“It’s very important for women to check and give them regular mammograms”.

Donations can be made at www.give.osu.edu/ParasPumpkins, with Paras matching the first $2,500 donated, dollar for dollar.