Giant Inflatable Pumpkin Escapes, Delights Onlookers in North Carolina

A two-story-high inflatable jack-o'-lantern made an early Halloween appearance in Cary, North Carolina, breaking free and traveling through town on Sunday. The unexpected airborne escapade occurred as the remnants of Hurricane Isaias passed through the area.

Michael Phillips, owner of Phillips Farm, described the runaway decoration as "the best advertising we could ask for." Initially, workers had decided not to inflate the oversized lawn ornament due to a tornado warning in effect. However, after the warning passed and the sun emerged, Phillips' father, Lee Phillips, decided to inflate the pumpkin.

Soon after, wind gusts reportedly reaching 40 miles per hour lifted the pumpkin, which then rolled along a post-and-rail fence, past a church, and down the road. The incident generated significant attention on social media, with videos of the inflatable pumpkin's journey being widely shared.

Phillips noted the overwhelming online reaction, stating he still receives numerous notifications daily from people commenting on the videos. Some social media users have turned the footage into memes, humorously depicting the pumpkin as an alien creature.

Phillips Farm workers secured the escaped pumpkin within approximately one minute, and Phillips assured that no one was in any danger. The farm has since taken additional precautions, securing the giant pumpkin with paracord, baling twine, and corkscrew spikes, tethered to two tractors to prevent further unplanned flights.