Jeanette Paras spent 25 hours creating a 678-pound pumpkin into a tribute to the late Dolly Parton, unveiling "Dolly PartKin" on her Dublin porch in a tradition dating to 1988.
The golden-haired creation, assembled with 21 wigs and prominent décolletage, sits on the same quiet porch that draws walkers and drivers from across the neighborhood every October. Paras has "pumpkinized" celebrity faces on giant pumpkins since 1988, and the annual reveal has become one of Dublin's most closely guarded seasonal secrets.
Paying tribute to Parton, who died Aug. 25, was a "no-brainer," Paras told This Week News. She said 95% of people who guessed which celebrity she'd created named Parton.
"If you have a problem with Dolly, that's a red flag," the Dublin resident said.
Past pumpkins have ranged from pop icons to political figures. Paras created "Taylor SwiftKin" in 2025 and 2023, and "TrumpKin" in 2015.
The project carries weight beyond pop culture. Paras is a two-time breast cancer survivor who has described pumpkinizing as part of her recovery and a way to promote early detection, mammograms and self-exams. She has raised tens of thousands of dollars for the Stefanie Spielman Fund for Breast Cancer Research, according to the city of Dublin's Link Ahead podcast.
The Spielman Fund was established in 1998 by Stefanie and Chris Spielman at The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center. Chris Spielman is a former Ohio State and professional football standout. Their original goal was $250,000. As of 2023, the fund had generated more than $26 million for breast cancer research, patient care and technology, according to the cancer center. Stefanie Spielman died in 2009 after a 12-year battle with the disease.
The city of Dublin promoted the Thursday, Oct. 22, reveal on X, calling it "Dublin's best-kept October secret." Each fall, the pumpkin turns Paras' street into an impromptu walking and driving tour.
