Context:

A cybersecurity engineer known as Farmer Mike has spent over four decades turning pumpkins into three-dimensional art, earning the nickname the Picasso of Pumpkin Carvers. At Half Moon Bay’s annual Art & Pumpkin Festival, he performs on stage and showcases whimsical, ghoulish, and pop-culture designs carved from Atlantic pumpkins weighing hundreds of pounds. His process treats carving as layered construction, creating depth and illusion rather than mere surface detail. Despite the pumpkins’ brief lifespan, he views the craft as a lasting personal expression, with no plans to stop. The festival and his broader invitations have solidified his reputation as a leading figure in a long-running Halloween tradition.

Dive Deeper:

• Valladao, an engineer by trade, began carving pumpkins in the mid-1980s after growing oversized gourds at his San Jose home and discovering carving as a creative outlet.

• In 1986 festival organizers saw a photo of his pumpkins and invited him to showcase at Half Moon Bay, where his family also operated the town’s first feed and seed store in the 19th century.

• He avoids the giant-pumpkin contest, focusing instead on stage demonstrations and commissions at venues such as the San Diego Zoo, the California Academy of Sciences, and the State Fair of Texas.

• Valladao relies on Atlantic pumpkins that range from 100 to 1,000 pounds, using thick skins to sculpt protruding features and create a three-dimensional illusion by varying depth.

• His philosophy emphasizes the ephemeral nature of pumpkin art, noting that aging can add character rather than bother him, while he continues to pursue new designs and opportunities.

• His work has extended beyond local festivals, including a television appearance on The Tonight Show, underscoring his status as a nationally recognized Halloween artist.

• After 40 years in Half Moon Bay, Valladao remains enthusiastic about carving, describing it as fun, enjoyable, and a core part of his identity.