Summary of The Great Jack O’Lantern Blaze
Festival Introduction
October 31 isn’t the only night when pumpkins are aglow in New York. Two historic Empire State locations will light up for more than six weeks this fall during The Great Jack O’Lantern Blaze — and tickets are on sale now to experience this annual Halloween tradition.
Locations and Dates
The long-running festival, which started in 2005, will return this year in two places. The first (and original) is Van Cortlandt Manor in Westchester County’s Croton-on-Hudson, where the Blaze runs from September 15 to November 19. Long Island’s Old Bethpage Village Restoration hosts the other Blaze event, stretching from September 22 to November 5. Both locations will feature more than 7,000 hand-carved pumpkins, which combine with synchronized lighting and large-scale installations to create a truly festive after-dark Halloween experience.
New Attractions This Year
This year will also mark the debut of a pumpkin Ferris wheel and a Day of the Dead display at the Hudson Valley location, while the Long Island site will feature live pumpkin carving every evening.
Visiting Tips
Tickets are required for both locations and must be purchased in advance. Once you’ve secured a ticket, you’re allowed to arrive up to 30 minutes before your stated admission time to park in the free on-site lots. Visitors can expect to spend between 45 and 90 minutes at the event, which is held rain or shine. The length of your particular visit might depend on how much time you spend enjoying the drinks, snacks, and souvenir shopping available along the route.
Nearby Explorations
For those wanting to supplement the Halloween adventure, the Hudson Valley location is just north of Sleepy Hollow, best known from Washington Irving’s 1820 story “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.” Explore the 90-acre Sleepy Hollow Cemetery, the resting place of Andrew Carnegie, Elizabeth Arden, William Rockefeller, and Irving himself. Irving’s home of Sunnyside also hosts an outdoor show, Irving’s Legend, during the month of October, featuring an appearance from the Headless Horseman. For those truly looking for a spook, it is recommended to stay overnight at the Tarrytown House Estate, which has rooms believed to be haunted.
