Autumn in the Hudson Valley means pumpkin spice on the shelves, hay bales on front porches, and more than 7,000 jack-o’-lanterns glowing across the historic grounds of Van Cortlandt Manor in Croton-on-Hudson.
For more than two decades, Historic Hudson Valley’s Great Jack-O’-Lantern Blaze has been the region’s ultimate fall tradition. Each year, hundreds of thousands of visitors wander its illuminated wonderland. Now celebrating its 21st season, Blaze runs for 52 nights between Sept. 12 and Nov.16. More than 125,000 visitors are expected this year, with tickets often selling out weeks in advance as fans travel from all 50 states to experience one of the nation’s most elaborate Halloween events.
“Blaze has been running since 2005, and it’s grown enormously,” said Rob Schweitzer, Historic Hudson Valley’s director of communications and commerce. “But the heart of it remains the same — walking through an extraordinary historic landscape at night and seeing what our team of only around 10 artisans can do with thousands of pumpkins. This year’s new displays will surprise even our returning visitors.”
It’s far more than a stroll among glowing gourds. Guests move at their own pace along a winding trail through the 18th-century grounds, stepping into themed worlds where folk art merges with sculpture, lighting design, and sheer imagination. Favorites include a towering life-sized T. rex, a 24-foot spider web spun from jack-o’-lanternx, and a carousel and Ferris wheel that whirl with pumpkin power. Overhead, a pumpkin-driven windmill turns its blades, while a lighthouse tall enough to guide Hudson River vessels sweeps its blinking beam across the path. Dragons, owls, elephants, skeletons, witches, and glowing jellyfish share the landscape with entire undersea realms. Museum-style plaques along the way reveal the Hudson Valley history and cultural inspirations behind the installations.
New for 2025: an emerald-hued Wizard of Oz dreamscape — a nod to the “Wicked” films — complete with a glowing Yellow Brick Road; a circus big-top filled with acrobatic jack-o’-lantern performers; retro video game icons including pixelated ghosts and pumpkin arcade consoles; and pumpkin re-creations of New York landmarks including the Statue of Liberty and Empire State Building. Special lighting effects and atmospheric music heighten the enchantment, transforming the site into a magical pumpkin land.
What makes Blaze extraordinary is not just its scale but its artistry. A year-round team of fewer than a dozen artisans designs and sketches the displays, while a seasonal crew scoops and carves thousands of pumpkins every fall. The carvers employ a mix of traditional and sculptural methods to achieve the astonishing variety of effects.
“For some displays, our artists shave away the pumpkin’s skin layer by layer rather than cutting all the way through,” lead designer Carmen Doyer explained. “That lets the light glow through at different intensities, almost like a stained-glass effect.” The technique allows for fine detail in the mosaic-like pumpkins that seem to shimmer with pattern. “For larger scenes, like the Headless Horseman appearing to ride through the night, multiple pumpkins are carved individually and then assembled together,” Doyer said, noting how the horse feels like it’s galloping, and the rider’s cloak seems to fly behind him. “We also use the traditional cut method for some of our jack-o’-lanterns, such as the ones you see on the Pumpkin Promenade,” she said.
The work is demanding. “Carving hundreds of pumpkins is hard labor,” Doyer said. “It requires strength and stamina to handle tools for long stretches, plus lifting and carrying heavy gourds. It’s messy too — pumpkin pulp and seeds are part of our daily routine. It’s both creative and athletic work.”
The carvers collaborate closely with Blaze’s production crew, which handles installation, lighting, and sound. Once the event opens, carvers continue producing replacements for the live pumpkins, which can last anywhere from three to seven days, depending on weather. Foam “art pumpkins” are used for highly intricate or large-scale designs that wouldn’t survive the season otherwise, but it’s the glow of the live ones that gives Blaze its magic.
Blaze doesn’t end at the trail. The Headless Horseman’s Hideaway offers seasonal sips, snacks, and photos with Sleepy Hollow’s most infamous rider, while VIP ticket holders can retreat to the Gourd & Goblet Tavern, a cozy 18th-century inn serving specialty cocktails and bites. Designed to be family-friendly, Blaze delivers just enough mystery to thrill kids without frightening them.
Photos by Alison Rodilosso
Historic Hudson Valley — the nonprofit behind Blaze — operates several National Historic Landmarks and creates programming rooted in folklore and regional history, especially Washington Irving’s tales of Sleepy Hollow. Other events this fall include “Twilight at Sleepy Hollow,” an evening market with storytellers and music; “The Headless Horseman Files,” an interactive mystery walk; and “Spirits of Sleepy Hollow Country,” a night of supernatural magic.
Still, Blaze remains the crown jewel, and a signature of Hudson Valley autumn.
“Blaze is atmospheric, moody, and genuinely appeals to all ages,” Schweitzer said. “You enter this glowing pumpkin world and you’re transported. Around every corner, there’s something new.”
Tickets sell fast and are available only in advance online, with Flex and VIP options. With strong demand, be sure to book early at hudsonvalley.org.
