Amazing Pumpkin Art At One Of Largest Halloween Events In The Nation
The Great Jack O' Lantern Blaze Continues To Be A World-Renowned Showcase Of Expertly Carved Pumpkins Lit Up In Van Cortlandt Manor
Most people have seen Jack O' Lanterns. Many people have even seen hundreds of Jack O' Lanterns. But not many people can say that they've witnessed more than 7,000 hand-carved Jack O' Lanterns, including a giant dinosaur made out of 150 carved gourds.
That may sound fantastical.
But it's possible at Historic Hudson Valley's Great Jack O' Lantern Blaze, a world-renowned showcase of expertly carved pumpkins lit up throughout the Van Cortlandt Manor's riverside landscape. With thousands of faces glowing in the night, it's a spectacular and dazzling sight for people of all ages.
One of newest creations is a fully functioning 20-foot diameter pumpkin carousel. The dedicated Historic Hudson Valley team worked with a man from Washington who designs flying horse carousel replicas - a popular hand-cranked carousel from the 1800s – to come up with the design. Retrofitted with a small motor, the pumpkin carousel turns automatically throughout the night.
Facebook user Mary Ellen Wright summed up the event in one simple sentence (along with 24 photos of the brilliant and innovative displays, including a 25 foot Statue of Liberty, made up of 114 carved pumpkins!): “If you are into Halloween, Hudson, New York is, I think, ground zero.”
Similar to Salem, Massachusetts, Halloween is a huge part of Sleepy Hollow's heritage. Blaze takes place at Van Cortlandt Manor in Croton-on-Hudson, which is part of an area known as Greater Sleepy Hollow Country, which got its name from Washington Irving's famous legend. His home is on a site owned by Historic Hudson Valley called Sunnyside.
Since Halloween has always been a huge to-do in the Sleepy Hollow area, Historic Hudson Valley wanted to come up with a Halloween-themed event that would be good for the whole family, shying away from the scare factor that most seasonal happenings thrive on.
They came up with the idea of an art installation using Jack O' Lanterns as the medium. At first, they were unsure how the public would react. But the event has really “blown up,” said VP of Communications Rob Schweitzer. “It's now one of the largest Halloween events in the country.”
From September 5 to Thanksgiving weekend, almost every night of the event is sold out six weeks in advance. In 2016, they welcomed more than 160,000 people from all 50 states – and even other countries – over those 37 nights. A typical night sees up to 5,200 guests, meandering throughout the Van Cortlandt Manor's property.
It's a “magical” experience that Schweitzer said can only be explained by witnessing it for oneself. While photos can be mind blowing and beautiful, they don't quite do the event justice. There's nothing like being under the crisp October night sky, surrounded by fog and thousands of intricate glowing figures.
“I think when you have real artists doing this work... It's just so far beyond me – who can't even carve a regular Jack O' Lantern – or the ability of an average person,” explained Schweitzer. “Yet everyone has had that experience of carving a Jack O' Lantern. Most kids have grown up with pumpkins and Jack O' Lanterns. So seeing it at this level is amazing. It really brings a sense of nastalgia.”
There are 15 Historic Hudson Valley members who make up the small team of carvers, overseen by a creative director. Something like a 150-pumpkin dinosaur figure takes up to several weeks to create. It's a dedication to the area's history that acts as the driving force behind the hard work and artistry.
A fan of American history, Schweitzer says that being a part of Historic Hudson Valley has been a “great fit” for him. The team not only aims to preserve the area's unique history and spooky heritage, but educate people about America's past, even the parts that aren't too pretty or glamorous.
Historic Hudson Valley also owns a site called Philipsburg Manor, which was part of an original land grant to the Philipse family from the King of England. It was a commercial site, operated by slave labor.
Explained Schweitzer: “We use that site to tell the story of slavery in the colonial north. Some people don't really realize that slavery was an institution in the north, despite how significant it was. We use that site to tell the story of the folks who were held their as slaves and forced to work the land there. Telling those kind of stories, it has a lot of resonence with things that are happening in contemporary society. Events like the Jack O' Lantern Blaze help support our efforts to continue this educational mission.”
The one-of-a-kind Jack O' Lantern Blaze not only lights up the night sky, but shines a light on the history of the area. People who stroll across the Pumpkin Zee Bridge will also see historic buildings in the backdrop. Families who point in awe at a giant sea serpent can see the calm Croton River right beside it.
The cozy and charming New England atmosphere only adds to the authentic feel of the Jack O' Lantern Blaze. And while it's not a scary event, it's hard not to imagine Ichabod Crane with a Jack O' Lantern for a head, galloping past the historic property, heading down a nearby trail once used by stage coaches.
Amongst all of the laughter, selfie-taking and dazzling pumpkin displays, some people may feel a shiver go down their spine as their gaze settles on a historic building, set in the shadows behind a row of cackling Jack O' Lanterns.
Olivia Richman
A graduate of East Connecticut State University in Journalism, Olivia has written for Stonebridge Press & Antiques Marketplace among others. She enjoys writing, running and video games.
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