Wally Thurow
Sycamore’s Mr Pumpkin
~ 1928 - 2012 ~
Wally Thurow was obsessed with pumpkins so much, that he decorated his front lawn with them for Halloween beginning in October 1956. With the help of the Sycamore Lions Club, he was able to convince the city of Sycamore to host an annual pumpkin festival, which began in 1962. Wally would wear a top hat and ride on a penny-farthing bicycle at every festival.
The themed pumpkin decorating contest began in 1973, where people of all ages decorated pumpkins to fit one of four categories: Funniest, Scariest, Animals or TV personalities. Since then, all pumpkins are put on display in front of the DeKalb County Courthouse, with as many as 1,000 entries vying for the prize of best pumpkin.
Following the passing of Wally in 2012, a life-size bronze statue of him and his bike was created by David Seagraves. The statue was dedicated in 2014 and sits on the corner of Somonauk & W. Elm Streets in Downtown Sycamore.
