Reckner said that in the event’s current iteration, the company still uses a lot of real pumpkins, especially for the displays that are closest to the trail. The biggest, most ornate carvings at the Spectacular are all done on real pumpkins — Reckner has years-long relationships with giant pumpkin growers, who grow gourds that can weigh up to 1,000 pounds. Carving them takes 6 to 12 hours on average, and up to 40 in some cases. Reckner even hung real pumpkins in the trees until their insurance company stopped them.