NEW ORLEANS (WGNO)- The Ritz-Carlton New Orleans is doing it up big this Halloween!  When we say big…we mean with big pumpkins!

News with a Twist Reporter Kenny Lopez takes us to the Ritz!

These pumpkins are proving that size does matter.

“I get pretty excited about the size of these pumpkins,”  Stephen Rooney said.

Rooney works at the Ritz-Carlton as a banquet server, but he’s also an artist, so when his Manager, the Food & Beverage Manager, Ian Moro asked him to design Halloween themes on these 100-pound pumpkins.

“Its really not that difficult to paint on the pumpkins.  I actually kind of enjoy the curves,”  he said.

Typically, pumpkins aren’t his canvas, and he usually doesn’t paint “Day of the Dead” themes.  Landscapes and swamps are what he’s big on!

“Stephen has a great talent and anytime we have a great talent, we definitely want to showcase it,”  Ian Moro, Ritz-Carlton Food & Beverage Manager said.

It takes Rooney about 4-hours to paint one pumpkin.  He’s finishing up the third pumpkin which will be displayed next to the other two pumpkins that sit right next to the Davenport Lounge.

“We really want to have the wow effect for all our guests with these large pumpkins,”  Moro said.

In the upcoming months, The Ritz-Carlton has many great holiday activities.  On Saturday, November 14th from 11:30-1:30 p.m. they will be hosting “Kids Pasta Making Day”.  Young chefs will get the chance to learn how to make pasta and then eat what they’ve made with their family.

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