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Halloween Express
FEATURED: All aboard the Conway Scenic Railroad’s Halloween Express!
Discover
Every fall, as the days shorten and the evenings take on that unmistakable October chill, something extraordinary happens in Providence, Rhode Island. The quiet paths of Roger Williams Park Zoo come alive with the glow of more than 5,000 hand-carved pumpkins. Dragons, movie characters, historical figures, and fantastical scenes flicker in orange light, turning the zoo into one of New England’s most magical after-dark experiences.
This isn’t just another Halloween event. The Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular has grown into one of the most beloved fall traditions in the region — a destination that draws families, couples, and groups of friends from across New England. For many, it marks the official start of the Halloween season.
But to really appreciate the magic of the event, you have to understand the story behind it: the history of the zoo itself, the artistry of the pumpkins, and the community that comes together every October to make it shine.
The Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular has an impressive stage, and it begins with the zoo itself.
Founded in 1872, Roger Williams Park Zoo is one of the oldest zoos in the United States. Located in a sprawling 435-acre park gifted to the city of Providence by Betsy Williams (a descendant of Roger Williams, the state’s founder), the zoo started humbly — a few small animal exhibits, a few curious townsfolk peering in at creatures they had only read about.
In those early years, zoos were less about conservation and more about entertainment. People came to see “exotic” animals from around the world, from elephants to monkeys, without much thought to their care. Over the decades, Roger Williams Park Zoo transformed along with the zoological field itself, shifting toward education, preservation, and conservation. Today, the zoo is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) and is home to more than 150 species, many endangered.
When you walk the zoo grounds by daylight — zebras grazing, elephants lumbering, red pandas snoozing in the treetops — you’re a part of that living history. But when October arrives, the zoo adds another chapter to its story: a dazzling celebration of creativity, community, and yes, pumpkins.
The Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular began in 1988, created by a group of artists known as Passion for Pumpkins, Inc. What started as a small local display quickly outgrew its roots. By the early 2000s, it had exploded into a major New England event, drawing national attention and even landing on “must-see Halloween” lists in outlets like USA Today and CNN.
Each year, the event features a new theme. Past themes have included “Around the World,” “Famous Faces,” “The Greatest Hits of Rock & Roll,” and “Legends of Literature.” Artists spend months designing the displays, carving intricate portraits and elaborate scenes into pumpkins that are illuminated along a quarter-mile trail.
The scale is staggering. Some pumpkins are small and simple, glowing with classic jack-o’-lantern grins. Others are massive — 100-pound gourds transformed into canvases for portraits of presidents, movie icons, or scenes from fairy tales. Taken together, the trail feels like walking through a gallery, except the art is alive with candlelight and autumn air.
It’s easy to assume these pumpkins are simple decorations, but the reality is closer to fine art. The team behind the Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular treats each pumpkin like a sculpture, carving layers into the flesh to create depth, shading, and detail. Some carvings resemble woodcuts or etchings, others mimic full-color paintings with the help of specially designed lighting.
To achieve this, artists often shave the pumpkin’s skin to different thicknesses, allowing light to filter through at varying intensities. The results can be astonishing: Abraham Lincoln’s lined face glowing against the dark, a Van Gogh “Starry Night” reimagined in orange and black, or a child’s favorite cartoon character brought to life in candlelight.
The artistry doesn’t stop at individual pumpkins. Entire sections of the trail are staged as immersive environments. You might walk through a jungle of glowing animals, a gallery of famous musicians, or a celestial corridor of constellations. Music and sound effects add to the atmosphere, making the experience feel theatrical as well as visual
The Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular is more than a display — it’s an event that feels tailor-made for families.
Accessibility: The trail is stroller-friendly and not overly long, making it manageable for kids of all ages.
Timing: Because it runs throughout October, families can pick a night that fits their schedule (and the weather).
Variety: While young children marvel at glowing animals and fairy-tale scenes, adults appreciate the artistry, history, and pop culture references.
There’s something almost universal about pumpkins. They’re playful enough for children, nostalgic enough for parents, and iconic enough to tie everyone together in the season’s spirit. Families leave not just with photos, but with a shared memory — the kind of memory that brings them back year after year.
One of the things that makes the Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular so special is how deeply it’s rooted in the local community.
The event directly supports the zoo, with proceeds funding conservation and education programs. For Providence, it’s also an economic driver, filling hotels and restaurants with visitors from across New England. Many local schools and organizations organize group trips, and volunteers help staff the event.
It’s not unusual to overhear Rhode Islanders proudly calling it their event, a tradition that has become as much a part of October as raking leaves or trick-or-treating. For newcomers, it’s a chance to see a different side of Providence — not the industrial city of history books, but a city transformed by art and imagination.
If you’re planning to experience the Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular, here are a few insider tips:
Buy tickets in advance. The event often sells out, especially on weekends.
Arrive early. Parking can be tight, and lines build quickly.
Weeknights are quieter. If you want a more relaxed experience, avoid Fridays and Saturdays.
Bring layers. Rhode Island nights in October can get chilly, especially when you’re walking slowly through the woods.
Don’t rush. The trail is designed to be savored — let your eyes adjust, take in the details, and enjoy the artistry.
On the surface, the Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular is a family-friendly Halloween event. But at its core, it’s something deeper: a reminder of the power of creativity to bring people together.
In an age where we spend so much time staring at screens, here’s an event that gets families outside, walking through the crisp autumn air, talking, laughing, and sharing wonder. The pumpkins may be temporary — they’ll collapse and fade by November — but the memories linger.
And isn’t that what fall in New England is all about? Traditions that return every year, linking past and present, creating moments worth remembering.
For me, the Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular represents the best of what autumn in New England can be: a little spooky, a little nostalgic, but mostly joyful. It’s a chance to marvel at art in an unexpected form, to see the familiar zoo transformed, and to be reminded that even something as ordinary as a pumpkin can become extraordinary in the right hands.
If you’re looking for a way to celebrate the season — to see your children’s faces light up, to feel the thrill of walking through a glowing forest, to mark October with a memory worth keeping — make your way to Providence. The pumpkins are waiting.
