Unmasking the Pumpkin Sculptor Who Brought Halloween Magic to Patterson’s Fruit Farm

CHESTERLAND, OHIO — A mystery that began last year at Patterson Fruit Farm has been solved, revealing the artist behind the beautifully carved pumpkins that delighted visitors. For the past two autumns, intricately carved pumpkins have appeared at the Chesterland market, sparking curiosity and excitement. This year, the identity of the carver was finally revealed: Anthony Pater, a Pennsylvania-based artist with a passion for pumpkin sculpting.

Patterson Fruit Farm first discovered Pater’s latest creation when another pumpkin appeared at their market this fall. The farm shared their excitement on social media, encouraging visitors to hunt for the art, take photos, and tag them online. This interactive challenge built anticipation and reignited the hunt for the mystery carver. It wasn't long before Pater came forward, ending the guessing game.

Pater’s journey into pumpkin carving began long before his creations arrived at Patterson Fruit Farm. “I’ve always loved carving pumpkins ever since I was a child,” he said. “Shows like Halloween Wars on the Food Network piqued my curiosity because artists would not just carve pumpkins; they would sculpt them into breathtaking works of art.” Inspired by those TV shows, he spent years analyzing how carvers turned ordinary pumpkins into extraordinary sculptures. Although he explored other artistic avenues like animation, painting, and illustration, Pater found carving to have a unique appeal. “Carving offered a unique appeal that cannot be replicated,” he added.

His passion for the craft deepened during his time at Edinboro University, where, during the pandemic lockdowns, he used his spare time to refine his skills. “In 2020, I started college at Edinboro University. With COVID shutting down in-person classes and freshman workloads generally being lighter, I had a lot of time to myself,” Pater explained. “To cure my boredom, I purchased dozens of pumpkins from the local farms and started sculpting them like my Halloween Wars childhood heroes.” After completing his carvings, he would place them around campus at night, allowing his creations to be discovered by surprise. The mysterious appearances quickly became a campus sensation, bringing joy to students and staff alike. “For all four years of college, I would carve pumpkins and butternut squashes only to leave them to rot in front of Edinboro buildings,” he said. “I would have been happy enough just doing that, but life gifted me numerous opportunities to expand and grow my Halloween hobby.”

Pater’s talent did not go unnoticed. Over the years, he was invited to carve at events around the country, featured in a student documentary, and even had the opportunity to compete on season 12 of Halloween Wars. Currently based in Pennsylvania, Pater frequently visits Ohio during the fall season. “I recently carved at Hamilton’s Operation Pumpkin premier event, and on my way back to PA, I visited a friend in Cleveland,” he shared. It was during one of these visits that he decided to leave another pumpkin at Patterson Fruit Farm, just as he had done last year. “Meeting up around Halloween to carve pumpkins at Patterson’s is a real treat,” Pater said. “Whenever we finished carving, I placed my tiny creation in front of a neighboring building, hoping someone would notice. To my surprise, people on Facebook did! I was elated to see that so many people were delighted by not just my work, but by the Halloween spirit.”

Pater’s carvings have not only brought a sense of joy and wonder to the local community but have also connected people through a shared appreciation for artistry and Halloween festivities. Patterson Fruit Farm staff expressed their gratitude for the surprise and encouraged others to join the fun, inviting visitors to take photos with the carved pumpkins and share them on social media.

As for what’s next, Pater has plans to keep his carving tools busy this season. “I’ll be sculpting a ‘gigantolantern’ massive pumpkin with my good friend and fellow Food Network alumni Ethan Anderson,” he said. This weekend, the duo will be in Reynoldsburg, creating what Pater describes as “a massive pumpkin spectacle to blow all other Jack-o-lanterns out of the water.”

Special thanks to Anthony Pater and those involved in the short documentary that was provided to Cleveland 13 News with Anthony's footage and background: Ethan Johnson, Noah Kelley, Levi Lewis, Makayla King, Reggie Taylor, Ryan Hess, Brian Fuller and PennWest Edinboro