Taylor SwiftKin 2.0: A Massive Pumpkin Tribute in Dublin
This Halloween season, a Dublin home is showcasing a massive pumpkin tribute to none other than pop icon Taylor Swift. The 735-pound pumpkin painting by artist Jeanette Paras captures Swift's recent milestones, including her engagement to NFL star Travis Kelce and the release of her latest album. Paras, known for her celebrity pumpkin paintings, has been creating these unique artworks for 37 years, with favorites like Ted Lasso-Kin and Baby Yoda-Kin. The Taylor SwiftKin 2.0 pumpkin took about nine hours to complete and is the largest pumpkin Paras has ever painted.
The pumpkin, grown by Dan and Julia Kamburoff of Ashland, Ohio, is a community attraction, drawing in neighbors and passersby eager to snap photos of the superstar squash. Paras, a two-time breast cancer survivor, uses her pumpkin art to raise awareness and funds for breast cancer research. She hopes to raise $10,000 for the Stefanie Spielman Fund for Breast Cancer Research, matching the first $2,500 in donations herself. A QR code linking to the fundraiser is displayed beside the pumpkin and on Paras' website.
Each pumpkin painting starts with research, sketches, and scale drawings before Paras begins the painting process. To ensure the pumpkin lasts longer, she avoids puncturing the surface, helping it withstand the elements. The Taylor SwiftKin 2.0 pumpkin may remain on display for a few months before undergoing a holiday makeover. Once its porch career is over, the pumpkin will undergo "surgery" to harvest its seeds, which will be returned to the Kamburoffs. Paras hopes that this year's giant pumpkin might catch Taylor Swift's attention, adding an exciting twist to her annual tradition.