Publications & Sites 
Pumpkin creations add touch of fall to Burr Ridge streets
Gia Costa has become well-known in her neighborhood as the pumpkin lady due to her many pumpkin characters that populate her subdivision. | Jon Langham~for Sun-Times Media
UP CLOSE
Name: Gia Costa
BEST KNOWN AS: the pumpkin lady – creator of unique pumpkin sculptures
HOMETOWN: Burr Ridge
CONTACT: (312) 520-3424
Article Extras
Updated: December 17, 2012 1:57AM
BURR RIDGE — Known as “the pumpkin lady” to her neighbors in Chasemoor, Gia Costa gourd sculptures decorate the entrance to each street in the neighborhood.
“Each one is a little different,” said Costa.
Some don the colors of favorite sports teams, while others resemble pirates. Still others are made to look like animals, and on the corner of Waterside Place and Chasemoor sits a pumpkin sporting a hat, mustache and cigar.
“He is an old man,” said Costa, who for three years has donated her pumpkin creations to the neighborhood.
“I thought, I am going to use the pumpkins to make it brighter and nicer for a little longer,” she said.
She said her pumpkins have been well received not only by neighbors, but also by passersby. More than one person, she said, has stopped to inquire about purchasing one for themselves.
“I also have a couple of orders now,” she said.
Half of Costa’s two-car garage serves as her workshop. On a second-hand card table Costa uses grasses, leaves and cat tails collected on her walks with her chocolate lab, Bambino, to turn gourds and squashes into one-of-a-kind creations.
She also shops thrift shops for hats, wigs and other accessories.
“I never know what he or she is going to be,” said Costa, who usually lets the shape of the nose determine the pumpkin creature’s gender.
Although she has been called an artist, Costa said she considers that an exaggeration. She said she is just trying to create something that will make people smile.
“It is uniting people together,” said Costa, who has met many neighbors as they admire her front-porch pumpkin display.
“It is turning out to be a positive reception,” she said.
