In the spotlight
Appearances
From ESPN College GameDay to local news segments, charity golf tournaments to NBA arena floors — Mike and his pumpkins have shown up everywhere.
ESPN College GameDay
It doesn't get bigger than this. Mike's Illuminated Carves pumpkins made it onto the most iconic stage in college football — ESPN College GameDay. His carved portraits of the show's analysts sat on the desk alongside the talent on live national television, watched by millions of fans across the country.
Cleveland Cavaliers
Mike has had a long relationship with the Cleveland Cavaliers organization — carving live at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, presenting portraits to players, and setting up full displays on the arena floor. From the 2016 Championship to Wine & Gold United events, Illuminated Carves has been part of the Cavs story.
The Big Three
Three glowing portrait carves of the Cavaliers championship trio — Kyrie, LeBron, and Love — displayed in front of the arena mural.
Carving in the Champions Locker Room
Mike carves on the practice court floor under the "We Are the Champions" banner — right where the 2016 title was celebrated.
Live at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse
Mike carves in a suite with the full arena floor visible through the window — the Cavs scoreboard glowing behind him.
Wine & Gold United HQ — Live Demo
Mike carves live on stage at Cavaliers HQ with a full display of glowing pumpkins flanking him and "W G U" balloons overhead.
Kevin Love — His Own Portrait
NBA All-Star Kevin Love holds his own portrait pumpkin in front of the Cavaliers logo wall. The likeness is unmistakable.
Behind the Scenes at Rocket Mortgage
Mike carving in the corridors of Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse — pumpkins stacked and ready, rotary tool in hand.
"Two Won Six" — 2016 World Champions
"The Land Rules the World" — a glowing tribute to the Cavaliers 2016 NBA Championship carved in wine and gold.
Kevin S. Pumpkins — Viral Moment
The viral Instagram moment — Kevin Love at a press conference with his portrait pumpkin visible behind him. The internet loved it.
Wine & Gold United — Arena Floor Display
A massive display of Illuminated Carves arranged on the Cavaliers arena floor in front of the Wine & Gold United banner — pyrotechnics and all.
Pro Football Hall of Fame
Illuminated Carves was selected to create and display a full installation inside the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio. Carved portraits of Hall of Fame inductees were placed on official HOF-branded pedestals throughout a dedicated presentation room inside the museum — one of the most prestigious venues ever to feature the work.
The Full Installation — Inside the Hall
Twelve-plus carved pumpkins on official Pro Football Hall of Fame branded pedestals lining the walls of a presentation room inside the Canton, Ohio museum — framed action photos on the walls, a player interview on screen, and every carve glowing in the dark.
On Display in the Museum
A glowing portrait carve displayed on an official Pro Football Hall of Fame pedestal inside the museum — the label reads "Future Purchases Football." One of the most prestigious placements in the Illuminated Carves collection.
HOF Logo + Portrait Pumpkins
Two Pro Football Hall of Fame logo pumpkins flanking two portrait carves of Hall of Fame inductees — all four glowing side by side in the darkened museum gallery.
Four Hall of Famers
Four more glowing portrait carves of Pro Football Hall of Fame inductees displayed in a row — each face illuminated from within, capturing the likeness of legends of the game.
Cleveland Monsters
Mike has made multiple appearances with the Cleveland Monsters — carving live at fan events, presenting custom pumpkins to players, and bringing Illuminated Carves into the world of AHL hockey. Watch the feature below and see the highlights.
Monsters Player — Fan Event
A Cleveland Monsters player in his #28 jersey poses with Mike next to a 3-pumpkin tower — a hockey player carve on top, Michael Myers in the middle, and a Halloween haunted house on the bottom. The Cavaliers pumpkin is visible in the background.
Cleveland Monsters Logo Pumpkin
The full Cleveland Monsters logo carved and glowing on a large pumpkin — the monster emerging from the water with "Cleveland Monsters" text perfectly illuminated. One of the most detailed logo carves in the collection.
Multiple Appearances on Golf Channel
Mike and Illuminated Carves have appeared on Golf Channel multiple times — from live on-air segments on Morning Drive and Golf Central to having his pumpkins featured during Presidents Cup coverage. The Golf Channel studio became a familiar stage for Mike's work.
Morning Drive Green Room Setup
Eight Illuminated Carves pumpkins lined up in the Golf Channel Morning Drive green room — portrait carves, a German Shepherd, an eagle flag, and the Golf Channel logo, all glowing before the segment.
Golf Central — On the Anchor Desk
A carved Golf Channel logo pumpkin sits right on the Golf Central anchor desk next to Titleist branding — on the set of one of the most-watched daily shows in golf.
Live Interview on Morning Drive
Mike sits down with the Morning Drive host for a live on-air interview. The carved Morning Drive pumpkin is visible on the table behind them — a prop that became part of the segment.
Presidents Cup Coverage — On Air
Three Illuminated Carves pumpkins — two captain portraits and The Presidents Cup logo — shown on-air during Golf Channel live Presidents Cup broadcast. Seen by millions of golf fans worldwide.
Featured on Local Cleveland News
Illuminated Carves has been a recurring Halloween feature across multiple local Cleveland news channels — Fox 8, New Day Cleveland, and more. From live on-set carvings to charity hospital visits covered by news crews, Mike has become a familiar face on Cleveland television every October.
On Set with a Cleveland Anchor
Mike poses with a local Cleveland news anchor in front of a full rack of Illuminated Carves — Captain America, Iwo Jima, and portrait carves all glowing behind them.
Fox 8 News — Full Studio Display
A 12-pumpkin rack set up on the Fox 8 News studio floor for a Halloween segment — one of the most recognizable news sets in Northeast Ohio.
Charity Hospital Visit — News Crew
A local news crew films a reporter presenting a glowing LeBron James portrait pumpkin to a patient at their hospital bedside — a community story that captured Cleveland hearts.
Live Carving on the News Set
Mike carves live on a local Cleveland news set while the anchor leans in for a closer look — portrait pumpkins glowing on the desk behind them.
Full Halloween Studio Setup
A full atmospheric Halloween set built around the Illuminated Carves display — 9-pumpkin rack flanked by stone columns wrapped in cobwebs and blue lights.
New Day Cleveland — On Air
Mike on New Day Cleveland with both hosts and five custom pumpkins on the anchor desk: Zimmer the dog, Cleveland Monsters 20th anniversary, the New Day Cleveland logo, a skull, and a tiger.
New Day Cleveland — In Studio
Mike with both New Day Cleveland hosts at the anchor desk, the freshly carved New Day Cleveland skyline pumpkin front and center. A perfect Northeast Ohio moment.
Everywhere Else
From casino floors to art museums, radio broadcasts to virtual demos, Illuminated Carves has shown up everywhere. The Circleville Pumpkin Show, Jack Cleveland Casino, Horseshoe Casino, the Cleveland Museum of Art, the Museum of Natural History, WTAM 1100 — if there is a crowd and a story to tell, the pumpkins find a way in.
Jack Cleveland Casino
A massive 50+ pumpkin wall display installed inside the Jack Cleveland Casino lobby — sports logos, movie characters, and celebrity portraits all glowing under the casino marquee.
Circleville Pumpkin Show
The full Illuminated Carves tent at the world-famous Circleville Pumpkin Show in Ohio — 80+ carved pumpkins covering every inch of a double-wide display under a red-and-white striped canopy.
Horseshoe Casino — Live Carving
Mike carves live on the Horseshoe Casino floor while two full pumpkin racks flank him — Horseshoe branding on the screens, GoodFellas, Browns, and Cavaliers pumpkins glowing behind him.
Cleveland Art Museum
Guests line up to view the glowing Illuminated Carves display in the Cleveland Museum of Art atrium — a packed evening event with the full pumpkin rack drawing a crowd.
Cleveland Art Museum — Live Demo
Mike carves live on the museum floor while a crowd gathers to watch — a camera crew films the demonstration as the full glowing pumpkin rack draws onlookers from across the atrium.
Museum of Natural History
The Illuminated Carves branded display table inside the Museum of Natural History — 12 pumpkins including Frank Sinatra, Indiana Jones, The Godfather, and a cross, with taxidermy exhibits in the background.
Gallery Art Space Display
A 35+ pumpkin display set up in a bright white-walled gallery space — US Air Force, USMC, Michael Myers, Ohio State, OBJ, Baker Mayfield, Notre Dame, and more, all with price tags for sale.
WTAM 1100 — Hard Rock Cafe Northfield Park
A custom portrait pumpkin placed center-stage on the WTAM 1100 Cleveland broadcast table at Hard Rock Cafe Northfield Park — iHeart Radio branding and the Hard Rock neon sign in the background.
Virtual Live Carving Demo
Mike carves live on a virtual Zoom event — 9 pumpkins on the rack behind him including Harry Potter, a werewolf, wolf, Thanos, Yoda, and Jack Sparrow, with the Shawshank Redemption poster on the wall.
More Appearances
TV segments, radio broadcasts, arena events, charity tournaments, museum displays, and press features.
Live on Local TV
Mike carves live on a Cleveland news set while the anchor watches a portrait take shape in real time.
TV Studio Halloween Set
A full 12-pumpkin production set built around Illuminated Carves — cobwebs, crumbling columns, blue LED lighting, and glowing portraits front and center.
WTAM 1100 — Hard Rock Northfield Park
A custom portrait pumpkin glows on the WTAM 1100 NewsRadio broadcast desk during a live remote at Hard Rock Northfield Park.
Carving Courtside at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse
Mike carves a Cavaliers pumpkin right inside Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse with the Cavs scoreboard glowing in the background.
Wine & Gold United — Cavaliers Arena
A massive display of 15+ Illuminated Carves arranged on the Cavaliers arena floor in front of the Wine & Gold United banner.
Kevin Love — Cleveland Cavaliers
NBA All-Star Kevin Love holds his own portrait pumpkin inside the Cavaliers facility. The likeness is unmistakable.
Cleveland Monsters — Hockey Night
A Cleveland Monsters player poses with Mike and a tower of Halloween pumpkins at a fan event.
Folds of Honor — Stage Presentation
Mike presents a custom Folds of Honor pumpkin on stage at a charity golf event — American flags flying, honoring those who served.
PGA Hall of Fame — 2018 Ohio Cup
Four custom pumpkins displayed inside the PGA Hall of Fame for the 2018 Ohio Cup Matches — PGA Northern Ohio, Kirtland CC, the trophy, and PGA Southern Ohio.
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame
A full Illuminated Carves display lit up the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame lobby — crowds lined up to see the glowing portraits.
Natural History Museum Display
A 12-pumpkin tiered display at a natural history museum with the Illuminated Carves banner front and center.
Painesville Fall Fest — The News-Herald
Mike was featured in The News-Herald after carving at the Painesville Fall Fest & Trunk or Treat. Over 800 people attended.
Mall Window Display
A 25-pumpkin grid display lit up a mall storefront window — passersby stopped in their tracks to take in the full glowing wall.
Want Mike at your next event?
Live carving demonstrations, custom displays, and one-of-a-kind commissions — Mike brings the show wherever he goes.