Creating an atmosphere of delight and amazement, the annual “Jack o’ Lantern Spectacular” at the Roger Williams Park Zoo each October is a truly inspiring demonstration of artistry and dedication.
Each year’s theme changes – One year, the theme was ‘Around the World’, featuring pumpkins carved into artistic depictions of places and things from around the world, from the Eifel Tower to Australian kangaroos.
But the theme didn’t stop there; it featured a variety of pumpkin carving celebrating celebrities like Ghandi and fictional characters like James Bond — each identifiable as icons of their own parts of the world.
The event’s primary artist, John Reckner, an Oxford, Massachusetts mail-man, was inspired by a Vermont farm that he had seen lined with glowing jack o’ lanterns.
In turn, he organized the first jack o’ lantern spectacular in Oxford in 1988. There were 185 jack o’ lanterns featured in this first event, all carved by local residents and displayed on a hillside behind a local school. About 300 spectators attended.
Now a resident of Rhode Island, Reckner has taken on the responsibility of organizing this event for the Roger Williams Park Zoo.
The premier presentation of the jack o’ lantern event attracted more than 80,000 visitors, making it a tradition for many New England families. A team of ver 30 professional pumpkin carvers spend six weeks creating the trail, developing different themes, backgrounds, and a truly breathtaking display of over 150,000 pounds of jack o lanterns, each carved with painstaking detail and artistry.
The centerpiece of the display, known as the “tree of light”, is displayed in the focal point of the trail, with individual carvings of fantastically illuminated pumpkins — hanging from trees, mounted on tree stumps, and some even emitting smoke and fire. The wonderment of the whole event would keep the family entertained and very appreciative of the monumental undertaking.
Visitors feast their eyes on scenes of famous sports heroes, celebrities, historic figures, and, of course, a wild pumpkin patch of endangered species. A very family-oriented event that will continue to entice thousands for years to come.
LINDA EAGLESON is at
heart an essayist, exploring the world around her and her feelings about it for most of her life. She lives a simple life and finds joy in simple things like a comfortable chair or an unexpected explosion of dandelion blossoms. She loves the outdoors and enjoys bringing her experiences to her readers.
Linda’s works have appeared in the Westerly Sun and in the pages of Rhode Island Roads, Jaunting, and Northeast Traveler. She has also presented her work at poetry slams and open readings across the state of Rhode Island.
