A man in a black bodysuit and pumpkin on a foggy graveyard set performs an earnest, slightly awkward dance routine. No dialogue, no explanation—just bouncy, theatrical arm swings and an unshakable sense of holiday commitment. It’s chaotic, homemade Halloween energy at its finest.
The moment first aired as part of a comedy sketch during Omaha, Nebraska’s KXVO 10 PM news broadcast on October 31, 2006. Performed by station personality Matt Geiler, it has become one of the internet’s most recognizable pieces of local-TV absurdism.
How It’s Used
- To celebrate Halloween with maximum irony and sincerity at the same time
- When you fully commit to something ridiculous and don’t care who’s watching
- To signal “festive chaos incoming”
- When someone asks for spooky vibes and you over-deliver
- Anytime a conversation turns delightfully unhinged
Origin
The clip comes from KXVO’s 10 PM news broadcast in Omaha, Nebraska, aired on Halloween night, October 31, 2006. The performer is Matt Geiler, then a news anchor and comedian, who improvised the dance to fill airtime. The costume consisted of a black spandex suit and a plastic jack-o’-lantern mask, with a generic eerie backdrop and stock Halloween music.
Why It Became a Meme
The Pumpkin Dance went viral because it perfectly blends absurdity, sincerity, and seasonal spirit. It spread across YouTube and social media in the late 2000s as users shared it under names like “Pumpkin Dance,” “KXVO Pumpkin Man,” or “Pumpkin Head Guy.” Its low-budget charm and unapologetic weirdness made it ideal for remixing, reaction posts, and annual Halloween reposts.
Legacy
Now a perennial Halloween classic, the Pumpkin Dance resurfaces every October across Twitter, TikTok, Reddit, and TV compilations. Matt Geiler has embraced the meme’s legacy, occasionally recreating the dance for fans and interviews. It remains a symbol of how local TV oddities can become internet folklore.