The Great Jack-O-Lantern Blaze is an event not to miss this Halloween season. Located in the Hudson Valley, at the historic Van Cortlandt Manor the Blaze features over 7,000 hand carved Pumpkins, lit up for the month of October extending into mid-November. Led by Creative Director Michael Natiello, a small team of Historic Hudson Valley staff and local artists carve all of the pumpkins with the help of more than 1,000 volunteers. The Blaze draws over 130,000 visitors a year.
As you walk through the dark, spooky ,wooded path and gardens, you will see hundreds of illuminated pumpkin carvings are so intricate and detailed. There is Halloween music that accompanies you as you go through the trail creating a multi sensory experience. Various themes and scenes have been set up using the pumpkins and turning them sculptures. In the past-we have seen Spiderwebs, Trains, elaborate Dinosaurs and colorful pumpkin clowns.
This year, they will be introducing two new attractions the Pumpkin Planetarium featuring color changing stars and you can cross over the 80-foot long Pumpkin Zee Bridge complete with a sea serpent swimming through the water.
Date(s): Sept. 30-Oct. 2; Oct. 7-10; Oct. 13-16; Oct. 19-31; Nov. 3-6; and Nov. 10-13.
Fee: $20 for adults ($25 on Saturdays), $16 for children 3-17 ($20 on Saturdays), and free for children under 3 and Historic Hudson Valley members
Ages: All ages welcome
Location: Van Cortlandt Manor is at 525 South Riverside Avenue, just off Route 9 in Croton-on-Hudson
For more information, please visit their website HERE