Highwood Goes For Pumpkin Record
CHICAGO (CBS) -- For the fourth year in a row, the Chicago suburb of Highwood has its eye on the Guinness Book of World Records as it prepares for its annual Pumpkin Fest.
Highwood Pumpkin Fest
This year, the four-day festival is going to attempt to break the world records for the most people carving pumpkins simultaneously as well as for having the most lit jack o lanterns--32,000--on display.
Last year, Highwood was going up against Keene, N.H., in their attempt to carve and light the most jack o lanterns at once, but what they couldn't predict was what a windy night would do.
"Last year, they beat us and the only reason why they did is because we live in the Windy City. We went down with 8,000 when they blew out in a matter of 5 minutes," said event organizer Eric Falberg.
Falberg says this year, things could be different.
For one, Guinness is allowing the use of electric candles for the first time.
Over several weeks, hundreds of volunteers scoop and carve the pumpkins to be displayed.
The town's three-day pumpkin festival attracts tens of thousands each year.
The festival, which also includes a pet costume contest, a pumpkin pie-eating contest, a 5K pumpkin run and more runs through Sunday.
