Ozzy Osbourne has been remembered in many ways since his passing this July at the age of 76: candlelit vigils in Birmingham, heartfelt tributes from fellow rock icons, and spontaneous fan gatherings around the world
But now, one of the most unusual — and perhaps most touching — tributes has appeared in the English countryside. An enormous mural of the Prince of Darkness has been created entirely from pumpkins.
The display was unveiled at Sunnyfields Farm in Totton, Hampshire, as part of the farm’s annual Pumpkin Time event. Every October, thousands flock to see the farm’s pumpkin pyramid — a towering, colorful mosaic made from squashes of every size and shade. In previous years, the designs have featured Beetlejuice, Paddington Bear, and The Nightmare Before Christmas. The latter even earned a Guinness World Record for the largest cucurbit mural.
But this year, the choice was clear. Following Ozzy’s death in July, more than 70% of the public vote went toward immortalizing the Black Sabbath frontman in pumpkins. For fans, it was more than novelty. It was a chance to celebrate one of England’s most infamous and beloved sons in a way both playful and reverent.
The result is breathtaking. Towering above the farmyard, the mural depicts Ozzy with his trademark round glasses and a gleaming crucifix around his neck. Three bats soar in the background — a cheeky nod to one of the most infamous moments of his career. His smile, captured in vivid orange and deep black gourds, seems to radiate warmth rather than menace, transforming the Prince of Darkness into the unlikely Prince of Pumpkins.
It took a team of sixteen people four and a half hours to complete the display, carefully positioning over 10,000 pumpkins and squashes. Thomas Nelson, director of Sunnyfields Farm, described the effort as a “labor of love,” noting that the team worked through mud, wind, and the sheer weight of the gourds to make sure every detail was just right. “We wanted to do him justice,” Nelson said. “And judging by the reaction, I think we have.”
Already, crowds are flocking to see the mural. Families, fans, and curious visitors wander among the rows of pumpkins, pausing in awe as Ozzy’s unmistakable face comes into view. Some bring flowers, others pose in front of the mural with rock horns raised high. One visitor was overheard saying, “It’s mad, but it’s perfect. Exactly how Ozzy would’ve wanted it.”
The mural will remain on display throughout the Pumpkin Time festival, which runs from October 4th through Halloween. It is expected to draw record-breaking crowds, many of whom see it as a fitting, if unconventional, memorial. After all, Ozzy’s life was defined by defying expectations — from a Birmingham factory worker to a global rock legend, from chaos to cultural icon.
Now, in the quiet fields of Hampshire, that story finds another chapter. The bats may be made of squash, the glasses crafted from gourds, but the spirit behind the mural is unmistakable. It is love — loud, colorful, and a little bit chaotic. Exactly like Ozzy himself.
As Sharon Osbourne once said of her husband: 💬 “He never did anything ordinary. Why should his tributes be any different?”
This October, the Prince of Darkness reigns once more — this time, as the Prince of Pumpkins.