The Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular, presented by Citizens Bank, will return to Roger Williams Park Zoo in Providence with shows running nightly from October 6 - November 6. This highly anticipated fall tradition features a breathtaking display of 5,000 illuminated jack-o-lanterns, with over 125 of them artistically carved and displayed in scenes highlighting the annual theme.
Situated on the Zoo's picturesque wetlands trail, the event has won praise from across the nation for its amazing artistry and appeal as a unique, family-friendly autumn destination. Over 125,000 people have come in each of the past three years to enjoy the nighttime show, and last year's Spectacular saw record-breaking attendance of over 140,000 visitors.
"Citizens Bank is honored to continue our presenting sponsorship of this fall attraction that brings guests from near and far to the Zoo," said Barbara Cottam, Rhode Island Market Executive, Citizens Bank. "With thousands of awe-inspiring pumpkins illuminating each night, this iconic Fall event offers something for everyone. You won't want to miss it!"
NEW in 2016: Timed Entry for Weekend Tickets - Sold Online Only
From Friday - Sunday, nights with the largest attendance, tickets will be sold with timed entry to significantly minimize the time visitors spend in traffic, parking and waiting in lines. These tickets will only be available for purchase online. Once inside the Zoo, visitors will enter the line heading to the start of the pumpkin show. As a courtesy to all our guests, timed entry will be strictly enforced. Visitors who arrive before their allotted time will not be allowed to enter, and those who arrive after their timed entry window will be required to wait as the Zoo gives priority to guests who arrive within their timeslot.
2016 Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular show details:
The 2016 presentation titled "American Treasures," will feature a celebration of our nation's history and culture through the rich lens of commemorative postage stamps. Since the Postal Service began in the 1850s, commemorative stamps represent key events, places and cultural icons in thousands of extraordinary works of art. Visitors to the Spectacular will experience these images in special scenery where they are transformed into intricate carvings on illuminated pumpkins.
Elsewhere on the trail will be scenes featuring Humanitarian Heroes, Endangered Species, Science Theater, and Backyard Garden. And of course, Halloween favorites will be back including the dazzling Laughing Tree with its hundreds of illuminated pumpkins and iconic laughing music.
Ticket prices:
Monday - Thursday: $15 adults; $12 children ages 2 - 12; tickets available online or at ticket booths.
Friday - Sunday: Tickets available online only; $18 adults; $15 children ages 2 - 12.
Babies age one and younger are admitted for free.
Admission and Pumpkin Trail hours:
The pumpkin trail will open at dusk, which is after 6pm particularly in the first weeks of October.
Zoo entry Monday - Thursday, 6pm - 10pm, trail closes at 11 pm.
Zoo entry Friday - Sunday, timed ticket entry only, beginning at 5:30pm. Trail closes one hour after last entry.
The Spectacular is an important fundraiser for Roger Williams Park Zoo. Proceeds from the event will help to support the Zoo's animal care, environmental education and conservation efforts both locally and around the globe, as well as Zoo improvements.
Groups of 25 or more may call email gsales@rwpzoo.org for advance reservations and group rates. For more information about group attendance at the Spectacular, visit the Zoo's website or email gsales@rwpzoo.org.
Roger Williams Park Zoo is conveniently located in Providence, RI at exit 16 off Interstate I-95 north and exit 17 off I-95 south, about 1 hour from Boston and 90 minutes from Hartford.
Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular founder and history:
The Spectacular was founded many years ago by John Reckner, an Oxford, Mass. 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.
Visitors at the 2014 Spectacular called it "autumnal bliss!" and "a fabulous night of gorgeous artistry." The show has been selected by the U.S. Library of Congress as a national "local legacy," and was featured in O, The Oprah Magazine, Martha Stewart Living, The Huffington Post, and on the Travel Channel, The Today Show, The Early Show, USA Today and CNN. The Associated Press hailed the show as "extraordinary", abc.com named it one of the top 11 "Spookiest Destinations" and the American Bus Association Spectacular dubbed the Spectacular a "Top 100 Event" in 2013 and 2016.
Roger Williams Park Zoo, one of the oldest in the nation, is Rhode Island's number one outdoor family and tourist attraction and is also a leader in conservation efforts undertaken by a zoo of its size. The Zoo has received numerous awards for environmental education, and conservation work done locally and around the world, caring for species that without human intervention would face certain extinction. Roger Williams Park Zoo is supported and managed by the Rhode Island Zoological Society and is owned by the City of Providence.
