Financial, Health Issues Force Summit Family To Cancel 'Talking Pumpkin Show'

SUMMIT, NJ — In the midst facing a myriad of financial and health issues, the family who runs the beloved Summit "Talking Pumpkin Show" was forced to cancel the event this year.

"It was an amazing 2 years having the show for the community," Summit resident and event-runner James Kralovich wrote on Facebook on Wednesday. "We tried the best we could to make the show happen again this year but because of health issues and being on the edge of eviction, it was just not possible."

Kralovich said the Talking Pumpkin Show started out as just a fun way to decorate his lawn for the fall season. It eventually became a whole show where the pumpkins sang spooky songs and Kralovich would put out an elaborate display for residents to watch throughout the month of October.

Last year, Kralovich said around 1,200 Summit kids and residents came by to watch the show throughout the month. The event also includes a raffle where local businesses donate gift cards and various prizes for kids who participate.

But after Kralovich's fiancée lost her job several months ago, Kralovich told Patch that money has been tight.

On top of that, after losing her job, Kralovich said his finacée developed serious health problems.

"She hasn't been able to work," Kralovich said. "Her unemployment didn't go through, her state health insurance never went through, so everything we've been paying for is out of pocket."

Since his finacée lost her job, he said it's been difficult to keep up with rent. The family is now faced with figuring out how to come up with around $11,000 to pay back six months worth of rent.

He said there's a risk they could even get evicted, despite Kralovich cashing out his 401K.

The couple also has a four-year-old son who they currently cannot afford to send to preschool.

He said last year's Talking Pumpkin Show cost around $3,000 to run, so he said it was too much to afford this year.

"Thank you to the businesses that sponsored the event, supplying all the print outs, candy, pumpkins, flowers, etc.," Kalovich wrote on Facebook. "Most of all, thank you to the community for come out to enjoy, with out all of you and seeing the happiness this brought to the children and parents, last year's show would have never happened... We are hoping that things will get better this year, so that next year the show could go on. I hope you all have an amazing Halloween!"

You can check out a clip from a previous Talking Pumpkin show on Facebook.

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