TRICK OR FEAT -- GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS® ANNOUNCES TOP HALLOWEEN RECORDS

From Largest Gathering of Skeletons To Fastest Time To Carve One Pumpkin, Record-Breaking Authority Names Fright-Filled List of Amazing Accomplishments

NEW YORK - October 26, 2009 –Thousands of people across the globe are shattering records in celebration of the spookiest of holidays this year and Guinness World Records is highlighting some of the best Halloween records past and present.  From pumpkins and zombies to skeletons and horror houses, this Halloween is one for the record books. To learn more spine-tingling records, check out the Guinness World Records 2010 edition, which is available in stores now.

“Halloween inspires some of the most creative record-attempts we see at Guinness World Records,” said Stuart Claxton, US Spokesperson for Guinness World Records. “People love the idea of doing something outside the norm, and Halloween gives everyone the perfect opportunity to submit some of most extreme, creative and unique record applications we receive all year.” 

Some of the top Halloween records include:

• Largest Virtual Halloween Party – Over 600 participants attempted the record for the Largest Virtual Halloween Party in Sony's Free Realms game on October 21, 2009. Each player dressed in Halloween costumes and danced to "virtual boomboxes".

• Longest Walk Through Horror House  - On September 12, 2009, the Cutting Edge Haunted House in Fort Worth Texas set the record for the longest walk through horror house at 689.17 m (2261.08 ft) long.

• Largest Gathering of Zombies - The largest gathering of zombies was set by 4,026 participants at 'The Big Chill Festival’ in Ledbury, Herefordshire, UK, on August 6, 2009.

• Largest Gathering of Skeletons - 197 audience members on the set of The Paul O'Grady Show set the records for the largest gathering of skeletons in London, UK, on September 24, 2009.

• Largest Halloween Gathering - The largest Halloween gathering was achieved by 362 participants, in an event organized by I Run For The Party's Halloween 5K in Nashville, Tennessee, USA, on October 18, 2008.

• Most People Carving Pumpkins Simultaneously - The record for the most pumpkins carved simultaneously is 965 and was achieved by 965 students at the Malvern Town Centre in Scarborough, Ontario, Canada on October 31, 2005.

• Fastest Time To Carve One Pumpkin - The fastest time to carve a face into a pumpkin is 24.03 seconds, by Stephen Clarke (USA), who broke his previous record on July 23, 2006 at Universal Studios, Orlando, Florida, USA as part of Food Network Challenge: Guinness World Records Week.

• Furthest Distance to Fire a Pumpkin  - A pumpkin was 'shot' by air cannon a distance of 1,368 m (4,491 ft) on September 19, 1998 by the Aludium Q-36 Pumpkin Modulator, built and manned by Matt Parker, Chuck Heerde, Rod Litwiller, Steve Young and James Knepp at the Morton Pumpkin Festival in Illinois.

• Most Pumpkins Carved in One Hour - Stephen Clarke carved 50 pumpkins in Times Square, New York City, in a promotion for Scholastic  "Goosebumps" book series on October 31, 2008.

• Fastest Time for Carving a Ton of Pumpkins - Stephen Clarke carved one ton of pumpkins in 3 hours 33 minutes 49 seconds at Harrah's Casino Resort, Atlantic City, NJ on October 29, 2008.

This world renowned and celebrated annual, Guinness World Records 2010, contains the most comprehensive collection of the greatest and most amazing accomplishments from around the world and beyond.  A “must-have” for both knowledge-seekers and aspiring record-breakers of all ages, Guinness World Records 2010 is available for the suggested retail price of $28.95.  For more information about Guinness World Records 2010 visit the Guinness World Records website at: www.guinnessworldrecords.com

About Guinness World Records
Guinness World Records is the universally recognized authority on record-breaking achievement. First published in 1955, the annual Guinness World Records book is published in more than 100 countries and 25 languages and is the highest-selling books under copyright of all time with more than 3 million copies sold annually across the globe. Guinness World Records celebrated its 50th anniversary edition in 2004, a year after the sale of its 100 millionth copy. Guinness World Records also annually publishes the Gamer’s Edition; a records book devoted solely to the world of computer gaming and high score record achievements. The Guinness World Records website (www.guinnessworldrecords.com) receives more than 11 million visitors a year. Guinness World Records is part of the Jim Pattison Group, one of Canada’s largest privately owned companies which is a conglomerate of interests, including advertising, broadcasting, grocery stores and automotive retailing.

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GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS
US
Jamie Panas / Philip Robertson
718.513.7263 / 718 513 7268
Jamie.Panas@guinnessworldrecords.com / Philip.robertson@guinnessworldrecords.com
UK
Press@guinnessworldrecords.com

26 October 2009