'House of 1,000 Pumpkins' collecting donations for American Cancer Society

CRANSTON, R.I. (TND) — A Rhode Island man has carved 1,000 craft pumpkins and assembled them on his front lawn for visitors to see during the Halloween season.

Guests were admiring the Jack-o-lanterns at the "House of 1,000 Pumpkins" while The National Desk visited the display Monday night.

I'm glad other people appreciate it because it's my passion," Tim Perry said. "I just love doing it. I love the finished product."

He started a few years ago with a few hundred pumpkins and continued to add more gourds to the display. Now, he's up to 1,000.

That was my goal," Perry said.

Not only is the display entertaining, but it's also for a good cause, as Perry is collecting donations for the American Cancer Society. His wife, Sue, is battling multiple forms of cancer.

I've been diagnosed, so far, with two different types of cancer," Sue Perry said, adding that doctors suspect she might have a third type of cancer.

She said she’s happy she and her husband have found a way to help others who are facing similar situations. She said people from across the nation can donate online, with all contributions going toward the nonprofit, which funds and conducts research, as well as supports patients and educates people about prevention.

They are very helpful," Perry said.

As for the display, Perry carves the pumpkins year-round. He starts setting up the display during the beginning of October.

I love Halloween," Perry said. "Probably about 15 years ago, I discovered craft pumpkins. I said, 'Oh, I can carve it and it will last.' I started carving more, and more, and more, and then I had in my head, 'I want to be 'The House of 1,000 Pumpkins,' and I made it this year."

Many of the carved gourds feature some of Perry's favorite musicians, such as Rob Zombie, Eddie Van Halen, Jimi Hendrix, Prince, Freddie Mercury, and more.

There are also pumpkins that depict members of The Beatles, Motely Crue, Guns 'N Roses, and several other classic bands.

Others feature actors from TV shows and movies, such as “The Munsters” and “The Addams Family,” as well as “Hocus Pocus” and “Halloween.”

There’s also Bugs Bunny, Marvin the Martian, and many more cartoon characters.

Perry said some pumpkins are more detailed than others, with those taking a bit longer to carve. On average, he said, they each take approximately two hours, including design time.

There's also something new for the 2022 season.

I have created two 12-foot jack-o-lantern poles this year with some of my carved craft pumpkins," Perry said. "They are anchored down, so they are wind-proof."

For each Jack-o-lantern, Perry said he designs a pattern and then prints it and cuts it out. He uses craft pumpkins, which are plastic.

“That way, they’ll never rot,” he said. “I mean, they can break. But, for the most part, they can last for years and I can just reuse them every year.”

To illuminate them, Perry uses wedding tea lights. There are also LED spotlights, adding color to the ambiance.

The display is lit nightly from dusk to 11 p.m., with Perry adding that the best time to visit is after the sun sets.

Learn more about the display and how to make a donation on Facebook.