The Great Jack O’Lantern Blaze
With over seven thousand hand carved jack-o-lanterns, this signature Hudson Valley fall event is sure to set your imagination ablaze!
What is the Great Jack O’Lantern Blaze?
For over 20 years this iconic event has attracted hundreds of thousands of attendees each fall season. The Blaze, which began as a humble event spanning just a handful of days, has ballooned into a nearly three-month-long showcase. Hosted at Van Cortlandt Manor, a Revolutionary War-era estate, visitors can meander the 18th century property and feel as though they’ve just stepped into a tale by Washington Irving. The property is adorned with thousands of intricately carved pumpkins, beautifully illuminating a crisp autumn evening. Each pumpkin is designed and hand-carved on site by a dedicated team of artisans.
The Blaze is made possible by Historic Hudson Valley, a non-profit dedicated to education and preservation. Your visit to the Blaze helps support programs that bring history to life in the classroom, at historic sites and beyond.
What to Expect at the Blaze
The pumpkins at this event aren’t just your typical homemade Halloween jack-o-lanterns. The creations at the Blaze include intricate sculptural pieces and landscapes, all crafted from pumpkins. Each year the designs are bigger and bolder! Visitors can find pumpkins transformed into everything from dinosaurs and dragons to carousels, giant spiders and classic monsters. Highlights include a giant spiderweb landscape and a life-sized Headless Horseman. Visitors can also enjoy synchronized light shows and spooky tunes that allow the displays to come alive.
Don’t forget to stop by the gift shop for seasonal souvenirs or to grab a festive fall treat like hot cider or donuts! The event is an outdoor, timed-entry experience designed to keep crowds manageable, so you’ll be able to stroll at your own pace while taking in the glowing displays.
Special Events and Additional Info
The Blaze is suitable for all ages and runs rain or shine. Tickets must be purchased in advance online and often sell out quickly, especially for weekend dates. Standard timed entry tickets start at $24. Flex Tickets, which allow you to visit at any date and time are $129. Historic Hudson Valley members enjoy free Blaze Standard tickets. Parking is free onsite, and the event typically lasts about 45–90 minutes.
Plan Your Visit to the Great Jack O’Lantern Blaze
Blaze runs on select weekday and weekend nights from late September through mid-November.
Where is the Great Jack O’Lantern Blaze?
525 S Riverside Ave, Croton-On-Hudson, NY, 10520
Take Amtrak to the Great Jack O’Lantern Blaze
The festival is easily accessible via Amtrak to the Croton-Harmon Station.
For Directions to Croton-Harmon Station, click below.
Experience the event via Amtrak to Croton-Harmon Station in Hudson Valley—Don’t forget to use See New York and Save 15% discount!
Get picked up from Croton-Harmon Station and taken to your reserved NYTRAIN Enterprise Rent-a-Car. Click here to reserve your car or call the Croton-Harmon office today at: 914-271-0100.