The Great Jack O’ Lantern Blaze: Immerse in the Halloween Spirit

As the hours of sunlight become shorter, the days start to get chillier and the leaves begin to change color, commencing the holiday season. One of the first few holidays, and my favorite, is Halloween. A time for dressing up, enjoying candy, attending haunted houses/hayrides, trick-or-treating, and… seeing jack o’ lanterns.

Originating in Ireland, the original jack o’ lanterns were designed carvings on potatoes and turnips and inspired by an old Irish myth. Over time, pumpkins became a canvas for carving. The idea of pumpkin jack o’ lanterns were brought over to America by Irish immigrants and was eventually incorporated into Halloween. Now, houses and streets can be found lit up and decorated by jack o’ lanterns.

However, The Great Jack O’Lantern Blaze is no average pumpkin carving showcase… It’s a whole gallery of carved pumpkin sculptures creating images, statues, and art installations. Should you find yourself in Long Island during October, this is a festival you will NOT to miss!

What is The Great Jack O’Lantern Blaze?

Located in Croton-on-Hudson, New York, The Great Jack O’ Lantern Blaze is the tri-state area’s BIGGEST fall event! With 7,000 hand-carved pumpkins, the Jack O’ Lantern Blaze creates extensive pumpkin sculptures. Needless to say, it’s not your average jack o’ lantern trail or display!

Discover themed sculptures at the event, including the Headless Horseman, skeletons, the Statue of Liberty, Pumpkin Planetarium, Carousel, and more! The artists enhance these sculptures with moveable pieces, synchronized lights, moving structures, and captivating light shows set to playlists.

Where to Purchase Tickets

Tickets start at $24 per person when purchased ahead of time online or are $26 at the door. Due to the size of the event, tickets are sold for different entry times. This popular event often sells out, so I recommend buying your tickets in advance to secure your spot, entry time, and save on this family-friendly experience!

What to Expect

Upon arrival, follow the line of cars heading to the event. As it’s quite popular, allocate 10-15 minutes for the car line before your entry time. The line moves quickly based on ticket entry times. There’s a designated parking lot, and nearby stores and restaurants offer parking with a short walk to the entrance.

Once you arrive and park at the event, there will be a tent in the front where the event sells souvenirs for the event. After the tent, is the actual entrance to the festival. Once inside, there is a mini pop-up bar and snack tent where you can purchase fall-themed food and drinks. If you arrive early, you can hang out in this area to take photos while waiting for your ticket time. At your ticket time, you will enter through the back tent and into a line that will enter into the pumpkin display.

Most people take about 60-90 minutes to go through the event but once you’re inside the event you can stay as long as you like! Make sure to take many photos and videos! Make sure to arrive at least 10 minutes early before your ticket time!

Ever since I first stepped into this event and saw all of the gorgeous pumpkin statues, I was in awe. Now, I try to attend the Great Jack O’ Lantern Blaze every year so I can see the new sculptures and designs, which change every year. My camera feed and Instagram story are always filled with photos and videos after each visit. The Great Jack O’Lantern Blaze is a night that you won’t forget. Be sure to visit the official website for more information and tickets!