Rhode Island’s Jack O’Lantern Halloween Spectacular: Over 5000 Unique Artistic Creations!
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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 for their annual Jack O’Lantern festival. I am a huge fan of everything to do with the fall, so this was definitely on my bucket list while living nearby in Fall River. I have attended a lot of wonderful Halloween events across the US, but this one tops the list for me.
It was an easy 20 minute drive for us, but I recommend a special trip for any fans of spooky season. This is hands down one of the most festive and fun events I’ve attended over the holiday season. What sets this event apart from a typical Boo at the Zoo festival is that you will get to see over 5000 incredible hand carved pumpkins. It’s an event that should please pretty much everyone who loves the holidays as well as anyone who appreciates great art.
This is a very popular event. It’s open 7 days a week, so we figured Tuesday night would be perfect, however, the crowds were still enormous. We arrived right 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. It was dark and crowded, so our pics didn’t turn out as well as we would have liked.
The Pumpkin Trail
As you walk along this spirited trail, you will get to see thousands of festive creations. 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 different regions of the US. The Heartland, Pacific Coast, Mid-Atlantic, Appalachians, and New England were all uniquely represented via their own detailed pumpkin carvings.
The amount of effort and detail put into each one is astonishing. I carve one or 2 simple pumpkins per year and get frustrated – I can’t imagine how much patience you need to carve one of these masterpieces.
The best part of the trail is arriving at the amazing grand finale. Thousands of Jack O’Lanterns cover both the grounds and the trees. This is one of the most jaw dropping displays I have ever seen. It really is something you need to see in person to truly appreciate. I have to say it was so much more incredible seeing this display in person vs seeing it on the Travel Channel TV special.
How long does it take to carve all those pumpkins?
According to the zoo, it takes the artists between 15-20 hours to complete each pumpkin. Can you imagine spending that much time on just one! Even more impressive, they replace the old pumpkins with fresh creations each week! Imagine all the time & effort involved in working on this event.
The ending result is one of the country’s most amazing events – I’ll say they have earned their many awards for sure. According to the zoo, an intricate sketch is drawn on each pumpkin. Next, small pieces are carved out, rather than the traditional full cut out (the ending result is mesmerizing).
Pumpkinville USA
The theme for this year was dedicated to spotlighting each region of the US. Each state was represented by something unique to the area. Enjoy looking through this spectacular photo gallery featuring some of the best pumpkin carvings of all time. These photos are from the 2013 event. I like that the theme changes each year so you can come back time and time again and see something different.
Update: For 2025, the theme this year will be Trivia. This is the second time the zoo is running this event. Basically, you will get to challenge your brain to some fun challenges along the route.
New England themed carvings
I really love this pumpkin representing Maine. I lived on a small island called Islesboro a few years ago and it brought back some memories. Lobsters and lighthouses – the 2 main things everyone thinks of when it comes to this state.
The New Hampshire pumpkin with the iconic state motto: Live Free or Die
A historic New England covered bridge. I’ve seen so many gorgeous old bridges since moving to this area. We couldn’t have an event dedicated to the area without acknowledging Vermont, the covered bridge capital of the US.
Anyone who watches Family Guy knows that the show takes place in Pawtucket. I’ve always been a fan of this show, but somehow it is even funnier now that I am living in the Providence metro.
Benjamin Franklin representing Massachusetts. He was born in Boston in 1706.
“Boston Strong” In memory of the Boston Marathon. Crazily enough, one of the students killed in this bombing was a student at Mike’s school where he taught P.E.
“The Heartland” themed carvings
The famous “American Gothic” painting by Grant Wood. Being a Chicago native, I’ve seen this in person at the wonderful Art Institute of Chicago. As one of the world’s best art museums, I recommend adding a visit to your bucket list.
“Motown Magic” – dedicated to the best artists of the era. Who is your favorite? I like the Temptations and the Supremes. My favorite song is What Becomes of the Brokenhearted by Jimmy Ruffin.
Thomas Edison – did you know that he was born in Ohio? There is a museum in Milan where you can view exhibits detailing his early life.
The Late Show with David Letterman. Update: Letterman announced his retirement in 2014 and his last show aired on May 20th, 2015. Do you prefer Conan or Letterman? Personally, I have always prefered Conan, although Jimmy Fallon is the most likeable host in my opinion.
Dorothy & Toto “The Wizard of Oz” – what a marvelous job with so much detail. This was probably the best carving at this event in my opinion.
Michael Jordan…the best basketball player of all time. As a Chicago native, I was a huge Bulls fan in the 90’s – really, who wasn’t? I even attended the Championship Rally at Grant Park in 1998.
Mt. Rushmore in South Dakota – it’s definitely on my bucket list!
Southeast state carvings
Bill Clinton, the 42nd President from Arkansas.
Cool set up of Jack O’Lanterns spelling out Mississippi over the water.
Lionel Richie, singer songwriter from Alabama. What are your favorite songs of his? I’ll go with Endless Love and All Night Long.
Mountain state carvings
Idaho…what a beautiful cat carving. Did you know that this state has one of the highest mountain lion populations? I lived in the area for a year, but never saw any major wildlife on any of my hikes.
A beautiful desert silhouette carving representing the Southwest. I’ve always loved cacti. Hiking in the desert is a surreal experience with scenery you do not get to see anywhere else.
The beautiful red rocks of Utah, home to many wonderful national parks including Zion, Arches, and Bryce Canyon.
Nevada…The entertainment capital of the world! I love the incorporation of the famous sign. It took me a few visits, but I finally got my picture next to this iconic sign!
Appalachian Highlands themed carvings
Elvis “The King of Rock and Roll”. I’ve always loved his music. What are some of your favorite songs? I love Can’t Help Falling in Love, Return to Sender, and Blue Christmas.
Representing Kentucky with The Kentucky Derby, a tradition dating back to the 1930’s.
Mid-Atlantic themed carvings
Audrey Hepburn in “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” What a gorgeous attention to detail!
Representing New Jersey…”The Garden State.” The nickname comes from the state’s main industry, which is agriculture. It’s kind of a funny nickname given that most people associate the state with being an industrial wasteland. Obviously, it’s much more.
Atlantic City…”America’s Favorite Playground” – I’ve stayed here several times, but I prefer Vegas! The Borgata is one of the nicest resorts around though. The pool, design, and restaurants are all amazing.
Albert Einstein, the famous German inventor died in New Jersey in 1955.
The Legend of Sleepy Hollow originated in Ulster County, NY. Today, you can enjoy a really scary haunted hayride which often makes the list of scariest Halloween attractions.
Dedicated to the first President, George Washington. On an interesting note, he was the only President unanimously voted in by the Electoral College.
A dedication to Martin Luther King, Jr., leader of the Civil Rights Movement.
Pacific Coast themed carvings
Hollywood, aka Tinseltown, where dreams are made or broken. I can easily make out Tom Cruise & Marilyn Monroe on this pumpkin (not sure who the actor in the middle is?)
Seattle…home to Bill Gates, Microsoft & Starbucks Coffee. This is a really great carving with perfect attention to detail. I’ve always wanted to visit Seattle since seeing the classic Tom Hanks/Meg Ryan film Sleepless in Seattle in the 90’s.
Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco representing the great state of California. Did you know that you can walk across this iconic bridge? I did on a quick stop while driving the PCH. It’s quite long at 1.7 miles but worth it for the amazing views. Kind of noisy, expectantly.
California’s Beautiful Yosemite National Park representing the wonderful US national park system. I saw on a special once that lots of hikers mysteriously disappeared while hiking here. As one of the larger national parks, there is a lot of space to get lost or unfortunately get attacked by wildlife.
Historic Haight Street in San Francisco. This hippie section of the city is most known for the “Summer of Love” of the 60’s.
Greetings from Hawaii or Aloha which means both Hello and Goodbye in native culture.
Hours, location, & additional details
This annual event takes place at Roger Williams Park Zoo (which I definitely recommend for a daytime visit). It is located at 1000 Elmwood Ave. As of 2025, this event runs from Sept 26-November 2nd. The trail is open from 6pm-10:30pm (last entry at 10).
Pricing varies based on date and ranges from $20-23 per adult and $16-19 per child. Admission is cheaper Monday-Thursday.
Check the zoo website for more details and next year’s time/dates. Both free parking and premier parking are available. The free parking lot is adjacent to the paid lot.
Sensory nights will be held on October 21 and 22nd.
Snacks and hot drinks are available at the start and end of the trail. The zoo itself is not open, however, you may spot a few animals while on the trail.
