The Great Jack O' Lantern Blaze at Van Cortlandt Manor in Croton-on-Hudson is the signature Halloween event in the the Lower Hudson Valley. Whether this year is your first Blaze experience or it's your annual fall family tradition, you don't want to miss this awesome experience.
Arguably the area's biggest, most elaborate Halloween happening, the Great Jack O' Lantern Blaze in Westchester typically spans the month of October and the first few weeks of November.
See more than 5,000 individually hand-carved, illuminated jack-o'-lanterns in this elaborate walk-through experience. Meander through a historic, 18th-century riverside landscape and discover a breathtaking display—all made of jack-o’-lanterns!
Stroll through the covered bridge with jack-o'-lanterns covering the walls (and ceiling!) and emerge to the sights of Sleepy Hollow and and the Headless Horseman, and witness the incredible sight of gourd-filled Jack-in-the-boxes springing up and bouncing around. See slithering ground snakes, a giant spider web, and go gaga over a collection of shrunken “Little Monsters.” Gaze in amazement at a towering pumpkin bonfire and a working doomsday grandfather clock. A giant sea serpent adds some hiss to the Undersea Aquarium while comical, squash-eating Venus pumpkin traps sprout in the garden.
Recent additions to the Blaze's perennially popular Jurassic Park include a pterodactyl and a brontosaurus. Plus, the Museum of Pumpkin Art features more than 20 works from professional artists and is the first exhibition space devoted to sculptural works inspired by (but not made from) pumpkins.
Tens of thousands of visitors experience the Blaze each year, and the event typically sells out. Complete with sound effects, elaborate synchronized lighting, and an original soundtrack by recording artist Richard Christy, this not-to-be-missed spectacle is the area's most innovative Halloween happening.
Address: Van Cortlandt Manor, 525 South Riverside Ave., Croton-on-Hudson
Dates: Through Nov. 30; see website for details
Tickets: $23 adults; $17 for children ages 3-17; free for children younger than 3 and members
Main photo: This T. rex is one of the formidable dinos in the Blazes Jurassic Park section.
Photo by Tom Nycz
