Last October I was lucky enough to attend the Great Jack O'Lantern Blaze held annually at Van Cortlandt Manor in Croton-on-Hudson, New York. This incredible display is formed from over 4,000 hand-carved jack o'lanterns arranged individually and mosaically (creating elaborate designs like dinosaurs and gigantic spiderwebs). The self-guided nighttime tour starts at the eerily-lit, pumpkin-bedecked manor itself, then proceeds through a seemingly labyrinthine landscape. A gift shop brimming with Blaze-related treats and souvenirs is strategically situated before the exit (I couldn't pass through without purchasing a couple of pouches of pumpkin pancake mix).
The sheer proliferation of gourds at the Blaze can be overwhelming, and admittedly it is hard to appreciate the craftsmanship of some of the more remotely located jack o'lanterns. Still, atmosphere is everything here, and as you wander through the orange-illumed grounds of the rustic estate, you'll feel like you've left the real world behind and crossed over into the very heart of the October Country.
The Great Jack O'Lantern Blaze is an unforgettable experience, and an absolute must-see for any Halloween aficionado living in the greater New York metropolitan area. Just be sure to plan your trip early: tickets sell out quickly every year for this hugely popular attraction. (My suggestion: make an entire day trip out of your excursion, stopping off in nearby Sleepy Hollow en route. The cemetery where author Washington Irving is buried--and which forms the basis for some of the events in his classic story--is an amazing piece of scenery.)
For more information about the Blaze, check out the official website. Also, I've embedded below a YouTube video (excerpted from The Martha Stewart Show) that offers a behind-the-scenes look at
the autumnal festivities at Van Cortlandt Manor.
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