Creative Artists Work Their Halloween Magic
The Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular at the Roger Williams Park Zoo, now in its fifth year, has become one of the most highly anticipated events of the Fall season. Presented by Citizens Bank, and created by artists and craftsmen of "Passion for Pumpkins," viewers will see a breathtaking display of 5,000 illuminated jack-o-lanterns, with over 125 of them artistically carved and displayed in scenes through out the Zoo's picturesque Wetlands Trail.
This year's theme is titled “Jack-O-Lanterns from A to Z.” Each setting will feature intricate "pumpkin art" arrayed in alphabetical order, with highlights from history and popular culture. For example, "D" is for dinosaur, "F" is for fantasy, "H" is for Horoscope, "J" is for jungle, "T" is for famous thinkers, and so on. Another section will feature character recreations to honor inspirational figures such as Princess Diana and Nelson Mandela.
Jack-0-Lantern shows will be running nightly from October 2nd through November 2nd. This event has won praise from across the nation for its amazing artistry and appeal as a unique, family-friendly autumn destination. Over 100,000 people have come in each of the past four years to enjoy the nighttime show. Last year’s "Spectacular" set an all-time record of over 135,000 visitors.
In addition to this year's Alphabet Scenes, many past favorites carved pumpkin tableaus such as classic Halloween images, and the Laughing Tree will be reprised. Hundreds more glowing jack-o-lanterns will be spread around the Zoo area amid spooky fog and scene-specific music.
Each year, crews from "Passion for Pumpkins" spend several weeks leading up to the event creating the many magical displays. Then, they will work nearly around the clock throughout the 32-night run to keep the show fresh for visitors.
There really isn't any other event that quite matches the creative energy and imagination of Roger Williams Park Zoo's "Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular."
Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular founder and history:
The Spectacular was founded many years ago by John Reckner, an Oxford, Massachusetts resident who recently retired from his postal carrier career. Inspired by a Vermont farm he had seen lined with glowing jack-o-lanterns, Reckner organized the first Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular in Oxford in 1988. The jack-o-lanterns featured in this first event were carved by local residents and displayed for only one evening on a hillside behind a local school. About 300 spectators attended. Today, Mr. Reckner, his family, and their crew of jack-o-lantern artists now known as Passion for Pumpkins, continue to bring the Spectacular to life.
Selected by the U.S. Library of Congress as a national “local legacy,” this event was also featured on abc.com as one of the “top 11 Spookiest Destinations” in the country. The American Business Association has also billed it as a “top 100 event”. The Boston Globe called the presentation “awe-inspiring.”
For more information on times, ticket and group sales please visit groupsales@rwpzoo.org. To learn more about this event you can visit www.rwpzoo.org.
by Rob Mariani
Assistant Editor/Writer
This year's theme is titled “Jack-O-Lanterns from A to Z.” Each setting will feature intricate "pumpkin art" arrayed in alphabetical order, with highlights from history and popular culture. For example, "D" is for dinosaur, "F" is for fantasy, "H" is for Horoscope, "J" is for jungle, "T" is for famous thinkers, and so on. Another section will feature character recreations to honor inspirational figures such as Princess Diana and Nelson Mandela.
Jack-0-Lantern shows will be running nightly from October 2nd through November 2nd. This event has won praise from across the nation for its amazing artistry and appeal as a unique, family-friendly autumn destination. Over 100,000 people have come in each of the past four years to enjoy the nighttime show. Last year’s "Spectacular" set an all-time record of over 135,000 visitors.
In addition to this year's Alphabet Scenes, many past favorites carved pumpkin tableaus such as classic Halloween images, and the Laughing Tree will be reprised. Hundreds more glowing jack-o-lanterns will be spread around the Zoo area amid spooky fog and scene-specific music.
Each year, crews from "Passion for Pumpkins" spend several weeks leading up to the event creating the many magical displays. Then, they will work nearly around the clock throughout the 32-night run to keep the show fresh for visitors.
There really isn't any other event that quite matches the creative energy and imagination of Roger Williams Park Zoo's "Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular."
Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular founder and history:
The Spectacular was founded many years ago by John Reckner, an Oxford, Massachusetts resident who recently retired from his postal carrier career. Inspired by a Vermont farm he had seen lined with glowing jack-o-lanterns, Reckner organized the first Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular in Oxford in 1988. The jack-o-lanterns featured in this first event were carved by local residents and displayed for only one evening on a hillside behind a local school. About 300 spectators attended. Today, Mr. Reckner, his family, and their crew of jack-o-lantern artists now known as Passion for Pumpkins, continue to bring the Spectacular to life.
Selected by the U.S. Library of Congress as a national “local legacy,” this event was also featured on abc.com as one of the “top 11 Spookiest Destinations” in the country. The American Business Association has also billed it as a “top 100 event”. The Boston Globe called the presentation “awe-inspiring.”
For more information on times, ticket and group sales please visit groupsales@rwpzoo.org. To learn more about this event you can visit www.rwpzoo.org.
by Rob Mariani
Assistant Editor/Writer