Jack-O’Lantern Spectacular moves to Norwalk, Connecticut for 2008
After a successful run of 6 seasons at Rhode Island’s Roger Williams Zoo and McCoy Stadium, New England’s biggest Jack-O’Lantern lighted display will be hosted at the Maritime Aquarium in Norwalk, Connecticut during October 2008.
If you’ve never been to one of these before then you’re in for a treat. You’ll find thousands of pumpkins intricately carved by artists and grouped in “skits” commemorating such things as music, films, famous people and events.
There is nearly always an Elvis and Beatles tribute, and this year George Carlin – the comedian – will get special treatment.
The show is appropriate for all ages and the emphasis is on being wowed rather than scared. Some of the sets can take a single artist over 20 hours to create as they use special tools to remove the flesh and transfer the vision in their mind’s eye to the pumpkin.
I’ve been a number of times to the show and the creations really do have to be seen to be believed.
You wander from scene to scene along a define route so you don’t miss anything.
Add in lights, themed music and the cooler autumn nights, and you’ve all the ingredients for the Norwalk show to make many new admirers.
In this year’s show there are fewer skits planned than in past years to allow more concentration on creating the show stoppers – sounds to me like they are trying to top previous shows.
This is an outdoor and evening event so wrap up warmly and enjoy one of the most unique events in New England during the Halloween season, and one named a Local Legacy by the U.S. Library of Congress.
The dates to see the show will be 11 evenings: October 23 – November 2. Show times are 6pm – 9:30pm Sunday through Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights until 10:30pm.
Advance tickets are sold in 30-minute increments and the display remains open for 90 minutes after the last timed admission.
Price is $12 Sunday through Thursday and $14 Friday and Saturday.
In addition to hosting the Jack-O’Lantern Spectacular, the Martine Aquarium in Norwalk is also a great destination for the family in itself, with living exhibits on the marine life in Long Island Sound, and an IMAX theater with supporting themed films.
More information and details can be found about the Jack-O’Lantern Spectacular at the Maritime Aquarium’s site at www.MaritimeAquarium.org
Norwalk is located in the southwest corner of Connecticut and for more suggestions on attractions to see visit our special Southwest Connecticut vacations page here.
Another New England post by one of our writers is being prepared right now so be sure to visit again or just subscribe to our RSS Feed here and get notified automatically of events and news.
Cliff Calderwood
Publisher
New England Online Travel Online Blog
If you enjoyed this article please share with others at your favorite sites below…
Related posts:
- Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular Returns to McCoy Stadium
- Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular Returns to Roger Williams Zoo for 2010
- August 2009 at the Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk, Connecticut
- February 2009 Events at the Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk, Connecticut
- April 2009 at the Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk, Connecticut
Good catch Jack . Stay tuned as I think you'll like our next post.
Cliff 
Hey Cliff,
What about all the wildlife refuge places you can visit in central Massachusetts, like Oxbrow and Assabet River? Hope ...
this is golden! I am also a writer, and I specialize in writing regarding Orlando travels. Here is my post: ...
I have heard that the mountain biking there is excellent and watched several YouTube videos like this one http://youtu.be/rk2u_VU2bkU that ...
Pingback by » Jack-O’Lantern Spectacular moves to Norwalk, Connecticut for 2008 … » Ski Resorts on 9 October 2008:
[...] News by unknown [...]
Comment by David on 17 October 2008:
It is too bad they moved it to Norwalk. Too far to travel from MA to see the pumpkins!
Comment by Lisa on 30 October 2008:
I think its very sad that they moved the Pumpkin Spectacular to Connecticut! This would have been my grandsons first year seeing it and I cannot see driving him 2 hours away to see the pumpkins! We have had it here since 2003 and I think its unfair that they moved it so far away from Rhode Island!
Comment by christine on 30 October 2008:
im disapointed its way to far to go on the last day its open from ri do u know if it’ll be coming to mass or ri next year?
Comment by Cliff Calderwood on 31 October 2008:
I’m not sure we’ll know the full story of why this popular fall festival keeps on being bounced around various venues. If anybody can shed any light and facts feel free to comment.
I hope it was a success for Norwalk and the Maritime Aquarium – they promoted it much better than McCoy Stadium did and my personal opinion of Roger Williams Zoo was that it was a challenge for them – the times I went there, I waited in long lines in very cold weather.
Who knows where it will return next year.
Enjoy Halloween wherever you go.
Cliff
Pingback by Disaster Averted! « The Entertaining House on 31 January 2009:
[...] Posted on November 2, 2008 by entertainingmom We went out last night to see the fabulous Pumpkin Spectacular. Afterwards we were all invited to a friend’s house for dessert. The children were all [...]
Comment by Danielle on 10 June 2009:
My fiance and I LOVE the fall and we have decided to use wedding themed jack-o-lanterns for the center pieces at our wedding. I am trying to find more information about local carving artists that would create our works of art. If anyone has any information please email me at amber12113@aol.com. *Please title the email pumpkins. Thanks so much!
Comment by James on 24 July 2009:
I live in Central New Jersey. My wife and I traveled 3 years in a row to the zoo to see the pumpkins. Just when it became tradition they stopped hosting it and no one could tell me if it was being held elsewhere. I didn’t know it was held the last 3 years at other locations. Does anyone know if it is being held in 2009? I want to take my wife back to it. She still talks about how much she misses it. Please contact me jamezynj@aol.com
Comment by Cliff Calderwood on 25 July 2009:
I’ve contacted the Maritime Aquarium to see what the plans are for 2009 and will post them here as soon as I hear back.
Cliff
Comment by Cliff Calderwood on 27 July 2009:
The Maritime Aquarium in Norwalk Connecticut will NOT be hosting the Jack O’Lantern display this fall. They did not know who will be hosting it and I have not been able to obtain any information on where it will be held in 2009.
As soon as I know I’ll post something in the blog and on this thread.
Cliff
Comment by matty on 5 August 2009:
the jack o lantern spectacular will be back at the rwp zoo this year.(2009) it run from oct 9th – nov 1st
Comment by Cliff Calderwood on 5 August 2009:
I’ve not been able to confirm whether it is returning to Roger Williams. I have a message into the zoo to confirm this news.
Cliff
Comment by Cliff Calderwood on 6 August 2009:
I received confirmation from Roger Williams Zoo today that the Jack O’Lantern Spectacular is returning to their location October 8 – November 1, 2009.
I will write a full blog post with all the details and some pictures they sent me from past displays this week.
Cliff Calderwood
Comment by Doris Hughes on 5 September 2009:
My husband and I saw Pumpkin Spectacular Halloween week at Salem Mass. We are bringing our Grandaughter to salem this year.
Will it be there this year 2009?
Comment by Cliff Calderwood on 5 September 2009:
Hi Doris,
I can’t find anything about a Pumpkin Spectacular Halloween Week in Salem. Salem has their famous Haunted Happenings festival throughout October but it does not list any Pumpkin festivals. Maybe as we get closer to Halloween they will post something. I will keep my eyes peeled for you.
Cliff
Comment by jennifer on 11 September 2009:
thanks for the info on where jackolantern spectacular 2009 is being held. i always liked it better at the zoo than at mccoy stadium and missed it last yr when it was in ct. i look forward to seeing them this yr.
Comment by Kate Fox on 22 September 2009:
Hi Doris, Salem does not host the Pumpkin Spectacular any more. It was only held for one year, and then organizers took it to Roger Williams Park in RI (I don’t know if it is still there). Salem Haunted Happenings begins on October 1 and runs through November 1 with lots of things for families, children, and adults to do. Please visit the calendar of events at http://www.hauntedhappenings.org for more information.