Rhode Island’s Jack O’Lantern Halloween Spectacular: Over 5000 Unique Artistic Creations!
![Jack O'Lantern Spectacular at Roger Williams Park Zoo in Providence](https://images.toptentravellist.com/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto/blog/2013/10/various-pumpkins-providence-zoo-blog.jpg)
After watching a “Halloween Crazier” special on the Travel Channel, Mike & I knew we had to make a trip over to Roger Williams Park Zoo in Providence, Rhode Island for the annual Jack O’Lantern Spectacular Event. This amazing artistic event held every October features over 5000 intricately carved pumpkins.
![Fields of pumpkins at Roger Williams Park Zoo's annual Jack O'Lantern Spectacular](https://images.toptentravellist.com/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto/blog/2013/10/pumpkin-fields-at-zoo-blog.jpg)
The Pumpkin Trail
As you walk along the Pumpkin Trail, you will be awed by the number of creative Jack O’Lanterns present. These aren’t your ordinary carvings; you will find detailed celebrity, nature, historical, and political creations. The theme varies by year: this year’s theme is a dedication to the different regions of the US. The Heartland, Pacific Coast, Mid-Atlantic, Appalachians, and New England were all uniquely represented by their own Jack O’Lanterns.
The best part of the trail is arriving at the amazing grand finale. 1000’s of Jack O’Lanterns cover both the ground and the trees. This is one of the most jaw dropping Halloween displays I have ever seen. It really is something you need to see in person to truly appreciate!
![1000's of pumpkins at Roger Williams Zoo's annual Jack O'Lantern Spectacular](https://images.toptentravellist.com/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto/blog/2013/10/1000s-of-pumpkins-zoo-blog.jpg)
How long does it take to carve all those pumpkins?
It takes the artists between 15-20 hours to complete each pumpkin. And, they replace the old pumpkins with fresh creations each week! Imagine all the time & effort involved in this event! An intricate sketch is drawn on each pumpkin. Next, small pieces are carved out, rather than the traditional full cut out (the ending effect is mesmerizing).
![Unique Jack O'lanterns at Roger Williams Park Zoo](https://images.toptentravellist.com/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto/blog/2013/10/green-and-orange-pumpkin-zoo-blog.jpg)
Rhode Island’s most popular Halloween event
This is a very popular event. Open 7 days a week, we figured Tuesday would be perfect, however, the crowds were still enormous! We arrived at opening time and still had to wait a half hour to get on the trail. I recommend buying online tickets in advance so you can bypass the long lines. It was hard to get as many high quality photos as we would have liked, however, we did our best!
Pumpkinville USA
Enjoy looking through this spectacular photo gallery featuring some of the best pumpkin carvings of all time! These photos are from the 2013 event. Each state was represented with an artistic and creative jack o’lantern!
New England themed carvings
Representing Maine…lobster and lighthouse
![Maine Jack O'Lantern](https://images.toptentravellist.com/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto/blog/2013/10/maine-pumpkin-zoo-blog.jpg)
Live Free or Die (New Hampshire state slogan)
![Live Free or Die New Hampshire Jack O'Lanternng](https://images.toptentravellist.com/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto/blog/2013/10/live-free-or-die-pumpkin-zoo-blog.jpg)
A historic New England covered bridge
![Covered bridge Jack O'lantern](https://images.toptentravellist.com/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto/blog/2013/10/covered-bridge-pumpkin-zoo-blog.jpg)
Family Guy (takes place in Pawtucket, Rhode Island)
![Family Guy Jack O'Lantern](https://images.toptentravellist.com/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto/blog/2013/10/family-guy-pumpkin-zoo-blog.jpg)
Benjamin Franklin (born in Boston, MA in 1706)
![Benjamin Franklin Jack O'lantern](https://images.toptentravellist.com/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto/blog/2013/10/ben-franklin-pumpkin-zoo-blog.jpg)
“Boston Strong” In memory of the Boston Marathon
“The Heartland” themed carvings
Representing the Midwest
![Midwest Jack O'Lantern](https://images.toptentravellist.com/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto/blog/2013/10/midwest-pumpkin-at-zoo-blog.jpg)
The famous “American Gothic” painting
!["American Gothic" Jack O' Lantern](https://images.toptentravellist.com/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto/blog/2013/10/famous-american-gothic-painting-blog.jpg)
“Motown Magic”
![Motown music Jack O'Lantern](https://images.toptentravellist.com/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto/blog/2013/10/motown-music-pumpkin-zoo-blog.jpg)
Thomas Edison (did you know that he was born in Ohio?)
![Thomas Edison Jack O'Lantern](https://images.toptentravellist.com/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto/blog/2013/10/ohio-pumpkin-zoo-blog.jpg)
The Late Show with David Letterman
![David Letterman Jack O'Lantern](https://images.toptentravellist.com/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto/blog/2013/10/David-Letterman-pumpkin-zoo-blog.jpg)
Dorothy & Toto “The Wizard of Oz”
![Wizard of Oz Jack O'Lantern](https://images.toptentravellist.com/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto/blog/2013/10/wizard-of-oz-pumpkin-zoo-blog.jpg)
Michael Jordan…the best basketball player of all time
![Michael Jordan Jack O'Lantern](https://images.toptentravellist.com/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto/blog/2013/10/michael-jordan-pumpkin-zoo-blog.jpg)
Mt. Rushmore in South Dakota
![Mt Rushmore Jack O'Lantern](https://images.toptentravellist.com/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto/blog/2013/10/mt-rushmore-pumpkin-zoo-blog.jpg)
Southeast state carvings
Bill Clinton…42nd President from Arkansas
![Bill Clinton Jack O'lantern](https://images.toptentravellist.com/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto/blog/2013/10/bill-clinton-pumpkin-SE-blog.jpg)
Cool set up of Jack O’Lanterns spelling out Mississippi over the water
![Mississippi Jack O'lanterns](https://images.toptentravellist.com/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto/blog/2013/10/mississippi-pumpkins-blog.jpg)
Lionel Richie, singer songwriter from Alabama
![Lionel Richie Jack O'lantern](https://images.toptentravellist.com/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto/blog/2013/10/lionel-richie-zoo-pumpkin-blog.jpg)
Mountain state carvings
Idaho…what a beautiful cat carving
![Idaho Jack O'Lantern](https://images.toptentravellist.com/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto/blog/2013/10/idaho-cat-pumpkin-blog.jpg)
A beautiful desert silhouette carving representing the Southwest
![Southwest Jack O'lantern](https://images.toptentravellist.com/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto/blog/2013/10/southwest-pumpkin-at-the-zoo-blog.jpg)
The beautiful red rocks of Utah
![Utah Jack O'lantern](https://images.toptentravellist.com/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto/blog/2013/10/utah-pumpkin-zoo-blog.jpg)
Nevada…The entertainment capital of the world!
![Nevada Vegas Jack O'lantern](https://images.toptentravellist.com/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto/blog/2013/10/vegas-pumpkin-zoo-blog.jpg)
Appalachian Highlands themed carvings
Elvis “The King of Rock and Roll”
![Elvis Jack O'Lantern](https://images.toptentravellist.com/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto/blog/2013/10/Elvis-pumpkin-zoo-blog.jpg)
The Kentucky Derby
![The Kentucky Derby Jack O'Lantern](https://images.toptentravellist.com/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto/blog/2013/10/kenucky-derby-pumpkin-zoo-blog.jpg)
Appalachia
![Appalachia Jack O'Lantern](https://images.toptentravellist.com/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto/blog/2013/10/appalachia-pumpkin-zoo-blog.jpg)
Mid-Atlantic themed carvings
Audrey Hepburn “Breakfast at Tiffany’s”
![Audrey Hepburn Jack O'Lantern](https://images.toptentravellist.com/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto/blog/2013/10/audrey-hepburn-pumpkin-zoo-blog.jpg)
New Jersey…”The Garden State”
![The Garden State Jack O'Lantern](https://images.toptentravellist.com/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto/blog/2013/10/garden-state-pumpkin-zoo-blog.jpg)
Atlantic City…”America’s Favorite Playground”
![Atlantic City Jack O'lantern](https://images.toptentravellist.com/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto/blog/2013/10/atlantic-city-pumpkin-zoo-blog.jpg)
Albert Einstein (died in New Jersey in 1955)
![Einstein Jack O'lantern](https://images.toptentravellist.com/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto/blog/2013/10/albert-einstein-pumpkin-zoo-blog.jpg)
The Legend of Sleepy Hollow (originated in Ulster County, NY)
![Sleepy Hollow Jack O'lantern](https://images.toptentravellist.com/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto/blog/2013/10/sleepy-hollow-pumpkin-zoo-blog.jpg)
George Washington
![George Washington Jack O'Lantern](https://images.toptentravellist.com/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto/blog/2013/10/george-wash-pumpkin-zoo-blog.jpg)
Martin Luther King
![Martin Luther King Jack O'Lantern](https://images.toptentravellist.com/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto/blog/2013/10/martin-luther-king-pumpkin-zoo-blog.jpg)
The Pacific Coast themed carvings
Hollywood…Tom Cruise & Marilyn Monroe (not sure who the actor in the middle is?)
![Hollywood Jack O'Lantern](https://images.toptentravellist.com/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto/blog/2013/10/hollywood-pumpkin-zoo-blog.jpg)
Seattle…home to Bill Gates, Microsoft & Starbucks Coffee
![Seattle Jack O'Lantern](https://images.toptentravellist.com/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto/blog/2013/10/seattle-pumpkin-zoo-2-blog.jpg)
Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco
![Golden Gate bridge Jack O'Lantern](https://images.toptentravellist.com/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto/blog/2013/10/golden-gate-pumpkin-zoo-West-blog.jpg)
California’s Beautiful Yosemite National Park
![Yosemite Jack O'lantern](https://images.toptentravellist.com/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto/blog/2013/10/yosemite-pumpkin-zoo-blog.jpg)
Historic Haight Street in San Francisco
![Peace San Francisco Jack O'lantern](https://images.toptentravellist.com/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto/blog/2013/10/peace-pumpkin-zoo-blog.jpg)
Aloha Hawaii
![Hawaii Aloha Jack O'Lantern](https://images.toptentravellist.com/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto/blog/2013/10/hawaii-pumpkin-zoo-blog.jpg)
Hours & location
The Jack O’Lantern Spectacular event takes place at Roger Williams Park Zoo, located at 1000 Elmwood Ave. Providence, Rhode Island 02907. Event runs from Sept. 29th-Oct. 31st. Trail open from 6pm-10:30pm (last entry at 10). Pricing varies based on date. Check the website for more details and next year’s time/dates. Both free parking and premier parking ($10) are available. The free parking lot is adjacent to the paid lot.
Snacks and hot drinks are available at the start and end of the trail. The zoo itself is not open, however, you may pass by a few animals while on the trail.
![Jack O'lantern Spectacular in Providence, Rhode Island](https://images.toptentravellist.com/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto/blog/2013/10/orange-pumpkins-zoo2-blog.jpg)
Have you ever attended Rhode Island’s Jack O’Lantern Spectacular? What was your favorite carving? How did you like the carvings at this year’s event? Feel free to share your thoughts below! Happy Halloween!