While most families place a candle or light bulb in their carved-out pumpkins, J.R. Hildebrandt can fit a chair and small heater in his.
The Wisconsin resident has carved a canoe out of a pumpkin and is taking the 760-pound gourd to the water where he plans to paddle 150 miles for charity.
Hildebrandt will row his orange veggie down the Wisconsin River to raise money for Tri City Children’s Dream Foundation, a group that gives special-needs children memorable trips.
“We’ve sent children to Disney Land, or Disney World. We’ve sent them to NASCAR races, we’ve even sent one little girl to Jamaica on a cruise, and I wanted to take it a step further,” Hildebrandt said.