It's almost that time of year when pumpkins dot lawns full of multi-colored trees and decorations adorn the fronts of houses. Halloween is upon us but, more importantly, the autumn season is also right around the corner with its chilly breezes and promise of a new year. As the seasons change, visiting the pumpkin patch almost feels like second nature to some people as they prepare their carving tools or paints, pans for roasting seeds, or recipes for pumpkin squash.
Perhaps one of the most popular autumn activities, pumpkin carving is something many love to do at home - but the fun doesn't stop there. While carving pumpkins is one way to have fun with the seasonal gourd, taking a tour of other people's carvings is equally as exciting. Across the country, there are Jack-'o-lantern tours that feature the work of carving artists from all over, and some of them might be in your very own backyard (well, close to it, anyway!). From beautiful sculpting to tiny works of art, these are the best places to view Jack-'o-lanterns in the country, with amended tours for the current safety guidelines.
Great Jack-'o-Lantern Blaze In Croton-on-Hudson, New York
The Great Jack-'o-Lantern Blaze is one of the biggest -if not the biggest - pumpkin display in the Tristate area. Not far from New York City, this display is in the Hudson Valley and features more than 7,000 Jack-'o-lanterns, each one carved in a different way and depicting a fun scene or theme. While guests will need to go at night to see all of these pumpkins alight, the views aren't bad during the day either since the entire tour runs along the Hudson River. It's one of the longest tours in the area as well, with various displays consisting of anything from mechanical, moving setups to 360-degree pumpkin rooms.
Keene Pumpkin Festival In Keene, New Hampshire
Not far in New England, New Hampshire is slaying its own pumpkin game with a production that has been going for over 30 years now. While these Jack-'o-lanterns are on display for a festival as opposed to a tour that lasts a month like the others, it's well worth it - this festival broke records back in 2013 with a whopping total of 30,581 pumpkins on display.
With social distancing measures in place this year, the festival is set to take place at the end of October and will undoubtedly deliver a sight that's just as brilliant as the last three decades. After all, it is the goal of the Keene Pumpkin Festival to bring together people of all ages to share in the magic of Halloween - and the autumn season!
Louisville Jack-'o-Lantern Spectacular In Louisville, Kentucky
In a different fashion from some other Jack-'o-lantern tours, the Louisville Jack-'o-Lantern Spectacular actually takes place in the Iroquois Park. The trail through the park takes visitors past extraordinary displays which features more than 5,000 pumpkins that line the walkway. These jack-'o-lanterns range in theme and carving with anything from spooky to fun and everything in between. The best part is that visitors can usually walk through at their own pace with the perk of taking in the sight of each and every pumpkin carving.
This year, however, things are being done a bit differently - rather than walking through, the park has set up a drive-thru event where visitors can take their car through the entire display, which lasts for a month, so there are plenty of days to choose from. Furthermore, the purchase of tickets to this Jack-'o-lantern event will go towards benefitting non-profit Lousiville parks and their community-based projects, to ensure that events like this keep happening and that the parks are well-maintained.
Jack-'o-Lantern Spectacular At Roger Williams Park Zoo In Providence, Rhode Island
Roger Williams Park Zoo is taking extra precautions this year and rather than having their usual walk-through event, they're also putting on a drive-thru display. This pumpkin extravaganza is also on display for a month, from October to November, allowing drivers to appreciate and enjoy more than 5,000 carved pumpkins. Normally, a zip line is also available at the zoo, allowing visitors to take in all the Jack-'o-lantern blazes from great heights - literally - with a unique aerial view of the entire setup. This crazy zip line also offers visitors a view of Providence as well, making for a pretty spectacular landscape after dark as both the pumpkins and the city, are lit up. This is an artisan display that definitely should not be missed!