Louisville Jack O’Lantern Spectacular

For the last eight years, Iroquois Park in Louisville, Kentucky, has hosted the Jack O’Lantern Spectacular during the month of October. And it is spectacular! Even in the rain, which is how I visited last October.

Change for 2020

Usually, this is a walk-through event, but due to the pandemic, it was a drive-through production in 2020. I’m not sure if the actual setup is any different than usual. As it was, it was kind of a long drive through, so I’m not sure if it’s that long of a walk? At any rate, aside from the rain, walking would have been preferable. Then you could have gotten closer to the pumpkins for pictures. The way the drive was set up, all the pumpkins were on the passenger side of the car. Which is perfect if you have at least two people, right? On my own, it was a bit of a photography challenge! In the pouring rain, I had the passenger window all the way down and my umbrella open over the passenger seat so it didn’t get soaked.

Jack O’Lantern Spectacular experience

BUT, the presentation is really impressive! The woods are decorated with lights and large-scale props and thousands of permanent (meaning: not real pumpkins) face Jack O’Lanterns. Then, closest to the road are about a hundred large REAL pumpkins carved by what must be professional pumpkin carvers.

It’s all set up in themed sections with accompanying music. And these scenes change every year! I can’t imagine how long it takes to set up. For instance, on my visit, there were sections for fairy tales, space, under the sea, music, a wild west saloon, cartoons, an old mill, on and on. It’s a long path. At the end, there is a section for “In Memoriam” with pumpkins carved with the faces of those lost during the year prior. This year, it was folks like Chadwick Boseman, Breonna Taylor, and Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

Plan for long lines!

This is a VERY popular event in any year, I waited in line significantly longer than for the experience itself. I don’t think the tickets are timed, but you do buy for a specific day. Once you’ve picked your day, try to get there as early as possible! Other suggestions I’ve seen is to buy dinner on the way to the line and eat while in line. The time frame for my visit was maybe 6:30-11:00 pm? I got there around 8:15, was in line for probably two hours, then the experience was about 45 minutes. I know I didn’t leave until 11:00. And there were a ton of people behind me! I recommend a hot drink to take with you – I know I wanted one by the time I was done and nothing was open! I can imagine it’s even colder when it’s a walk-through.

Choose your day and buy your tickets online. Keep in mind that those long lines are longer the closer you get to Halloween!