Hi friends, welcome back! After missing out on the fun last year, Jon and I made it back to the Great Jack O’Lantern Blaze. We always go to the Hudson Valley location, but there is also one in Long Island that opened within the last few years. This spooktacular event runs from September 13th through November 17th and is great for all ages (Long Island dates differ). If you ever plan on going, I highly recommend getting on their email list so you can get first priority of tickets. The best time slots on the weekends sell out rather quick and they are getting stricter about not letting cars into the parking lot until their designated time.
The Great Jack O’Lantern Blaze has been around since 2005 and there’s always something new to see. This year they added a Gourd and Goblin Tavern you can add on to your ticket, a few new pumpkin displays, and a Celebration Arch that you can customize. It was set up for a proposal while we were there, but you can do birthdays, anniversaries, etc.
The display of over 7,000 hand carved (real & fake) Jack O’Lanterns takes about 45 minutes to an hour to view and you’re free to go at your own pace. There is also a spooky soundtrack paired with the displays to enhance the experience.
This circus was new to us this year and I thought it was creative.
Our favorites are the windmill, planetarium, and carousel. It’s pretty amazing the displays they can make!
Jon and I enjoyed our night at the Great Jack O’Lantern Blaze and highly recommend everyone visit if you’re in the area around Halloween! What display caught your eye?
It’s amazing what can be made out of pumpkins and lights! I’m also just struggling to comprehend the amount of time and effort it would take to hand carve 7000 pumpkins!
It really is! They reuse the fake pumpkins from prior years, but that’s still a lot of pumpkins to carve and man hours! I can barely carve a regular pumpkin with a basic face ha
I love the displays like the second photo, where dozens of pumpkins dot the ground below whatever is really supposed to grab your attention. Not sure if it’s the illusion of perspective or the real thing but it’s very effective. Also, I’d love to walk down the path lined with pumpkins; the one that seems to go on to infinity. How much do you pay for the experience and did you think it was worth the price?
They are really good about adding little details to each big exhibit, it all really captures the attention. The infinity trail is where the headless horseman is supposed to ride down I believe. They have horse hooves as the soundtrack there, a little spooky. I believe the tickets are $45 for adults, a little pricey, but the event is put on by the Historic Hudson Valley nonprofit and they do a lot of good in the area, so it’s a good cause.
Your t-shirt caught my eye! Seriously, it looks a great event for all ages.
That is a fun shirt! My other Halloween shirt is a ghost holding a martini glass that says “More Boos Please”, but I didn’t think that was a good look for me this year 🙂
Understandable Lyssy
This is such a neat event, showing the lights and spooky Hallowe’en atmosphere without the blood and gore that seems to abound these days. A little bit more to your right and you and Jon would have had a halo. Thanks for sharing Lyssy. Allan
I agree! I prefer Halloween fun that is appropriate for all ages. Haunted houses are a hard no from me. I don’t need blood, gore, or jump scares. You’re right I just missed the perfect photo spot.
That does look like so much fun!
Such a great event!
Looks great – I’d love that…..
Maybe one year you can come to NYC around Halloween!
I remember writing about it years ago … that we’ve only visited in the heat of summer or depths of winter!
I think fall is the best, although last fall rained every weekend so you never know!
Sounds like here!!!!!
Halloween is one of my favourite holidays. Sounds like a fun outing! What an neat display of pumpkins and other Halloween decor.
Me too! It’s such a fun outing and really gets us in the Halloween spirit 🙂
Amazing!
They do a great job!
I just watched their video I believe on their website yesterday. Glad you got to go again! I did not know until yesterday they opened a location on Long Island. They have carvers/ artists employed to make the magic happen. Nice photos!
We were very happy to be back, it’s such a great event! I’ll have to check out the Long Island one sometime, it would be good to change it up. That would be a fun job to be a carver.
Indeed it is! I’m sure the carvers get joy out of making people happy.
It takes imagination to create all these stages, good show!
It is impressive what they can come up with!
Beautiful! Definitely a show-stopper of an event. The Great Jack O’Lantern Blaze is a great way to usher in Halloween and the gorgeous fall season, especially in New York! Thanks for sharing it with us, Lyssy 🙂
It really is such a great event and fun way to celebrate spooky season. Such a change in weather from last year, now we are in a draught! Last year it rained for about 11 weekends in a row.
Looking beautiful! Good photos 💯 well shared 💐
Thank you!
💐
What a fun event! I have never heard of this.
It is such a fun event!
How fun!! I love Halloween, this almost looks like a mix of Halloween and Christmas with all those lights. Maggie
Looks spooktacular – we just don’t do Halloween like that in the UK 🙂
Fantastic, Halloween is such a fun holiday! This place is really enchantingly spooky without any blood and gore. Perfect for the whole family to enjoy.
I am very impressed at the detailed pumpkin carvings, there are some talented artists making these!