Why New York’s Great Jack-O-Lantern Blaze Is the Best Way To Celebrate Halloween

Every Halloween, thousands of Jack-O-Lanterns light up a magical world of pumpkin art in Croton-on-Hudson, a small town in Westchester County, NY. The Great Jack-O-Lantern Blaze, as its known, has become a staple New York Halloween celebration and will run from Sept. 18 to Sept. 31. The festival will comply with the state’s "Low-Risk Outdoor Arts and Entertainment Guidelines." It’s a true pumpkin paradise that’s absolutely worth the trip — the Pumpkin Carousel, Pumpkin Windmill, and Pumpkin Planetarium are just a few of the highlights. There’s nothing like The Great Jack-O-Lantern Blaze to get you in the Halloween Spirit.

The festival features more than 7,000 illuminated pumpkins in all sorts of designs and structures, from dinosaurs to cowboys gathered around the campfire.

It’s the ideal festival for all ages, a fantasyland that stuns both children and adults with incredible displays of pumpkin art.

It’s located at the Van Cortlandt Manor, a 17th-century house located near the Croton and Hudson Rivers.

Check out the famous Museum of Pumking Art, where you can enjoy pumpkin-ized interpretations of classic works of art. You won’t find such a unique collection of pumpkin creations and decorations anywhere else.

This year, there’s even a second location of the festival on Long Island.

Set aside around 90 minutes to take in the whole experience, because it’s quite a show. The Pumpkin Planetarium has become an attraction that highlights festival-goers’ experiences year after year.

The festival is only an hour-long train ride away from New York City, making it the perfect day trip for New Yorkers looking to shake things up from their usual Halloween celebrations in the city.

If you live in New York City, take the Metro North Hudson Line from Grand Central Terminal to the Croton Harmon Station. From there, the property is only a short walk or cab ride away.

With New York City’s status for Halloween still unknown, it’s the perfect time to make plans to visit Jack-O-Lantern while tickets are still available. You can purchase tickets here.